Winter Session May Take Up Vande Mataram Debate

Winter Session May Take Up Vande Mataram Debate

Why in News?

The Winter Session of Parliament, starting 1 December 2025, is set for three weeks of intense discussions. The opening day is likely to focus on the “Vande Mataram” debate, with the government emphasizing constructive legislation.

Highlights of Recent ‘Vande Mataram’ Debate

• On 24 November 2025, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat issued a bulletin ahead of the winter session of Parliament. The bulletin instructed that no members should raise slogans such as “Vande Mataram” or “Jai Hind” inside or outside the House. The Secretariat justified the instruction by referring to parliamentary customs and decorum.
• The guideline came just before the planned full‑day discussion on Vande Mataram — a debate intended to commemorate the 150‑year anniversary of the song and to reflect on its cultural and national significance. According to the officials, the move is not novel. A similar circular was issued in November 2005 under the UPA government, when slogans such as “Jai Hind” and “Vande Mataram” were also deemed inconsistent with parliamentary etiquette.
• Members of the opposition have sharply criticized the Secretariat’s notification. They described the directive as ironic and unacceptable. They argued that slogans like Vande Mataram and Jai Hind have deep roots in India’s freedom struggle, and barring them in Parliament amounted to disrespecting national heritage. Now, they feel, restricting them in the democratic institution of Parliament echoes that very suppression.

Historical and Constitutional Significance of “Vande Mataram”

• Origin: Our National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s. It first appeared publicly on 7 November 1875 in the literary journal Bangadarshan. Later the poem was included in his novel Anandamath, published in 1882. 

• Meaning: The hymn addresses the motherland as “Mother,” evoking reverence and emotional belonging. The term “Vande” has deep roots in Sanskrit heritage. Bankim Chandra’s words drew on spiritual and cultural ideas of motherland and sacred soil. 

• Freedom Movement: The poem became a rallying cry during India’s struggle against British rule. In 1896, Rabindranath Tagore first sang the song publicly at a session of Indian National Congress (INC), giving it a political and emotional thrust. After the 1905–1906 partition of Bengal by the British, the song grew in popularity as a symbol of protest and unity across regions. Many freedom fighters adopted it as a chant during demonstrations, protests and public gatherings.

• Adoption: In October 1937 the INC adopted the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram for national use. After India gained independence, on 24 January 1950, the Constituent Assembly accorded Vande Mataram the status of the national song of the Republic of India. The first President of India Rajendra Prasad declared that the song should be honoured equally with the national anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’. 

• Constitutional Position: Though the song holds national status, the Constitution does not explicitly mention a “national song.” Because of this, unlike anthems in some countries, there are no legal rules on decorum or mandatory protocols for reciting Vande Mataram. In 2022, the central government clarified in a court affidavit that while citizens should respect Vande Mataram, it does not carry a legal mandate.

Parliamentary Procedures and Protocols on National Symbols

• • Legal Framework: The Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha follow a formal code of conduct. This code is laid out in their respective “Handbook for Members.” The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 prohibits disrespect or desecration of national symbols such as the national flag, emblem, anthem, or constitution.
  • Guidelines: The code demands that members speak or act only in ways permitted by the rules, precedents, or accepted customs of the House. It prohibits raising slogans, chants or slogans during proceedings. 
    • Members are barred from displaying flags, emblems, placards, or other “exhibits” on the floor of the House during sessions. This includes wearing clothes or badges bearing slogans or symbols, except wearing the national flag as a lapel pin to preserve the dignity and decorum of parliamentary debates.
    • The rules also forbid members from criticizing the rulings given by the Chair—whether during the session or outside the House. When a word or expression is ruled “unparliamentary” by the Chair, the member must withdraw it immediately.

• Limits: The rules do not impose a blanket ban on singing or acknowledging national symbols outside Parliament. Also, national‑symbol statutes such as the Prevention of Insults Act apply to public conduct, not internal parliamentary protocol. Respect for national symbols and their use inside Parliament remains subject to House discipline, customs, and the discretion of the Chair.