Maharashtra legislature's winter session begins with full recital of 'Vande Mataram'

Nagpur, Dec 8 (PTI) Members of the Maharashtra assembly and council on Monday recited the full version of 'Vande Mataram' on the first day of the legislature's winter session here, marking the 150th anniversary of the national song.

The proceedings in both the Houses began with the customary recital of the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram, followed by 'Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha', the official state song.

Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar and council chairperson Ram Shinde said, "It is a tradition of the legislature to recite the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram on the first day of every session. However, as this year marks 150 years since its composition, the House will recite the entire song." Members of both the Houses then recited the full song.

During the assembly session, Narwekar also announced the names Chainsukh Sancheti, Kishor Patil, Rahul Patil, Uttamrao Jankar, Ramdas Masram, Sameer Kunawar and Saroj Ahire as presiding officers. They will chair proceedings in the speaker's absence.

In the council, members paid tributes to prominent personalities who recently passed away.

After the condolence motion was passed, the House was adjourned till Tuesday.

Notably, a discussion on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram is being held in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

The debate in Parliament is part of the year-long celebrations on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, a poem written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, and set to tune by Jadunath Bhattacharya.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hit out at the Congress, accusing it of removing key stanzas from the song in 1937 and sowing the seeds of partition.

On November 7, Modi launched year-long celebrations to commemorate the 150th year of Vande Mataram, aimed especially at youth and students to deepen awareness of the song's significance. PTI ND CLS GK