Vande Mataram Row: Bankim Chandra’s Descendant Seeks Apology From Sonia Gandhi

BJP MLA from West Bengal and direct descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Sumitro Chatterjee, has written to Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi expressing ‘deep anguish’ over what he described as an insult to Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day.

Chatterjee, who represents the Naihati Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas, demanded an unconditional apology to the people of India, particularly those in West Bengal, over the alleged incident involving the singing of the full version of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s iconic composition.

In his letter, Chatterjee said the incident was deeply distressing as the country observed its 80th Independence Day. He alleged that Sonia Gandhi showed visible discomfort and repeatedly attempted to stop Congress workers from singing the full version of Vande Mataram.

“As an ordinary Indian citizen, a patriot and, above all, a direct descendant of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s family,” Chatterjee said he wrote the letter with ‘deep pain, emptiness and anguish’.

Highlighting the song’s historical significance, Chatterjee referred to Sri Aurobindo’s description of Vande Mataram as a powerful expression of patriotism. He said the composition inspired generations of freedom fighters, including Khudiram Bose, and became closely associated with India’s struggle for independence.

The BJP MLA recalled the song’s role during the Swadeshi movement following the Partition of Bengal, when ‘Swadeshi’, ‘Boycott’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ became prominent slogans of the freedom movement.

Chatterjee recalled Vande Mataram’s historic renditions by Sarala Devi Chaudhurani and Rabindranath Tagore, along with its role in Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s trial and the 1938 Osmania University student movement.

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