Dehradun, Dec. 10 -- The discussion held in the Lok Sabha on the 150th anniversary of the national song, 'Vande Mataram', which was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, forced members of the ruling and opposition parties to explore the history of the freedom movement and its many currents. For those who took the trouble to attend, it will have proved a lesson on the complexities of Indian democracy, in contrast to the simplified versions that have been manufactured over the years under different dispensations.
While the BJP initiated the discussion to ostensibly underline the sentiment behind the song and its relevance today, the Congress claimed ownership as the party that led the freedom movement. A lot of historical facts related to ho...