Vande Mataram: the song of Independence.

On Our 80th Independence Day today (HT), "A Pew Research Center Survey conducted across 36 countries between February and May 2026 reveals an international community divided down the middle: a global median of 45% of respondents hold a favorable view of India, while 41% express an unfavorable opinion." Sri Lanka has the most favorable view of India with 79%, followed in second place by the UK and Kenya with 71%. Pakistan has the largest unfavorable view with 91%, followed by Turkey, another Islamist dictatorship, with 72% negative. Surprisingly, Brazil and South Africa, both BRICS nations, are negative.  TOI. Alarmingly, "Attacks on Indians living abroad have witnessed a nearly sevenfold increase in the past five years," according to the Ministry of External Affairs. There were 15 attacks in 2021, which jumped to 104 in 2025. The US reported the highest number of violence against Indians with 33, "followed by 32 in the UAE, 31 in the UK, 30 in Canada, 24 in Ireland, 23 in Russia and 19 in Germany." NDTV. "In an unprecedented acceleration of immigration enforcement, Canada has deported 3,323 Indian nationals during the first six months of 2026." "Families who invested substantial resources - often liquidating ancestral land or securing high-interest loans - to send students to Canadian colleges now face sudden deportations and severe financial distress." News18. "Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a three-day visit to Australia from 8-10 July," during which, "The finalisation of export arrangements to supply Australian uranium for India's nuclear power plants signifies that the relationship has reached new depths." East Asia Forum. On 8 July 2026, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese "can and should take a different approach when Modi returns to Australia this week," as "in the three years since his last visit, the Modi government has weakened India's democratic institutions and intimidated and harassed critics...Violence against religious minorities has increased and BJP leaders routinely use hate speech to target Muslims and Christians, while government curbs criticism online." ABC. "An influential students' organisation in Nagaland has asked educational institutions not to send students to participate in Independence Day celebrations this weekend, during which the complete version of the national song Vande Mataram will be sung. HT. Vande (praise, celebrate, venerate) Mataram (mother) was a published in 1882 as a poem in Sanskrit, written in the Bengali script, by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in his novel Anandamath (The Abbey of Bliss) and became the rallying cry in the Indian Independence Movement. "Indeed, the song and the raising of 'Vande Mataram' as a slogan was outlawed by British authorities." Britannica. A row erupted when Vande Mataram was played before the Tamil anthem and the national anthem "as per directions from the Governor's office" during the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C Joseph Vijay. India Today. Following that, "A resolution has been unanimously passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, mandating that the state song 'Tamil Thai Vazthu' be sung first at the beginning of government events." "Both DMK and AIADMK supported the resolution." NDTV. A song which united and electrified the nation before Independence is now dividing it. "A US lawmaker has raised concern over New Delhi's proposed amendments to Indian laws governing foreign donations received by NGOs, trusts, educational institutions and religious organizations, threatening that the changes could affect bilateral relations." NDTV. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill 2026 says that a Designated Authority will take over assets and foreign contribution of an organization that ceases to have an FCRA certificate. PRSIndia. And "the Catholic Church and Christian NGOs and activists have expressed serious concern over the Bill." TOI. Attacked outside, divided inside. Independent yes, but how secure is Mother India? Vande Mataram.