Vande Mataram debate: BJP MP urges Centre to restore dilapidated home of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
New Delhi—On December 8, a special session in Parliament celebrated the 150th anniversary of “Vande Mataram.” During the Zero‑Hour debate, BJP MP Govind Laljibhai Dholakia expressed alarm that the Kolkata home of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the writer behind the iconic national song, has fallen into severe neglect.
He described the situation as “deeply unfortunate,” noting that the house, linked to one of the most powerful patriotic songs of India’s freedom struggle, now stands in a dangerously dilapidated condition that could lead to further deterioration or even collapse. Dholakia urged the Centre to step in and restore the building with the respect it deserves, arguing that safeguarding such historic sites is vital for keeping the legacies of national icons alive for future generations.
The MP added that a restored site could serve as a hub for cultural and social programmes, allowing “social work to continue in his honour” and helping to “immortalise” Bankim Chandra’s contribution.
His comments arrive amid a growing chorus from historians and heritage advocates demanding the protection of India’s literary and cultural landmarks, many of which are currently neglected. The government is expected to review the matter as part of its broader heritage‑conservation strategy.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a fiery remarks on Monday, launched a sharp attack on the Congress during a Lok Sabha debate marking the same anniversary. He accused former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of aligning with Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s objections to the song and of “pandering to communal sensitivities.” Modi referenced an old letter Nehru had written to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, warning that “Vande Mataram” could “provoke and irritate Muslims” and suggesting its usage be reconsidered, even though it originated in Bankim’s Bengal.
The Prime Minister also tied the song to the 1975 Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi, noting that when “Vande Mataram” turned 100, the Constitution was slashed and patriotic voices were jailed. He urged Parliament to seize the present moment to “restore the greatness of Vande Mataram.”
janvi/dan
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