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India Celebrates 150 Years of ‘Vande Mataram’: PM Modi Launches Year-Long Nationwide Commemoration
Summary: India begins a year-long celebration marking 150 years of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ - a tribute to the timeless anthem that united India’s freedom fighters and continues to inspire the spirit of self-reliance and national pride.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the commemoration in New Delhi with the release of a special commemorative coin and postal stamp, calling the song “a mantra, an energy, and a solemn resolve that defines Bharat’s eternal consciousness.”
At the grand event in Delhi,yesterday, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi described ‘Vande Mataram’ as a symbol of devotion, courage, and unity - a living mantra that connects India’s glorious past with its confident present and visionary future.
“Vande Mataram is not merely a word - it’s an emotion, a dream, and the collective heartbeat of Maa Bharati’s children,”
- PM Narendra Modi
The event witnessed mass singing of the full version of Vande Mataram across the nation - in schools, community centres, and iconic public spaces - resonating the spirit of unity in diversity.
Composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterji in 1875 during Akshaya Navami, Vande Mataram first appeared in his novel ‘Anandamath’ through the literary magazine Bangadarshan.
It invoked the motherland as a divine embodiment of strength (Durga), knowledge (Saraswati) and prosperity (Lakshmi) - and soon became the battle cry of India’s independence movement.
From Rabindranath Tagore’s 1896 Calcutta Session performance to the protests against the 1905 Bengal Partition, the song echoed on the lips of countless revolutionaries, including Bhikaji Cama, Veer Savarkar, and freedom fighters who faced the gallows chanting “Vande Mataram!”
The Prime Minister reflected that “when the British tried to portray India as weak and divided, Vande Mataram shattered that myth - presenting a vision of a Sujalam Sufalam Bharat (a prosperous India).”
He said that the song continues to remind citizens of India’s civilizational depth - a culture that balances power with morality, strength with compassion, and progress with peace.
PM Modi also noted that in 1937, when portions of the song were separated, it “fragmented its soul” - warning the nation to guard against divisive ideologies even today.
PM Modi emphasized that as India enters its Amrit Kaal, the mantra of Vande Mataram must guide the journey toward a developed, self-reliant Bharat.
He said:
“When India conquers new frontiers - from the Moon’s South Pole to global technology leadership - every heart naturally chants ‘Vande Mataram’.”
Highlighting India’s progress in science, innovation, and defence, the PM said that the spirit of Maa Bharati’s children - now 140 crore strong - will ensure that no dream is impossible.
The date 7 November 1875 marks the auspicious Akshaya Navami when Bankim Chandra first wrote Vande Mataram.
Exactly 150 years later, India renews that legacy with a year-long celebration - a bridge connecting the country’s cultural roots to its futuristic aspirations.
The ceremony was attended by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Delhi Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, and Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, among other dignitaries and thousands of citizens.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the commemoration in New Delhi with the release of a special commemorative coin and postal stamp, calling the song “a mantra, an energy, and a solemn resolve that defines Bharat’s eternal consciousness.”
PM Modi’s Historic Address: ‘Vande Mataram Is Not Just a Song - It’s Our Soul’
At the grand event in Delhi,yesterday, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi described ‘Vande Mataram’ as a symbol of devotion, courage, and unity - a living mantra that connects India’s glorious past with its confident present and visionary future.
“Vande Mataram is not merely a word - it’s an emotion, a dream, and the collective heartbeat of Maa Bharati’s children,”
- PM Narendra Modi
The event witnessed mass singing of the full version of Vande Mataram across the nation - in schools, community centres, and iconic public spaces - resonating the spirit of unity in diversity.
The Legacy: How a Poem Became India’s National Anthem of Freedom
Composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterji in 1875 during Akshaya Navami, Vande Mataram first appeared in his novel ‘Anandamath’ through the literary magazine Bangadarshan.
It invoked the motherland as a divine embodiment of strength (Durga), knowledge (Saraswati) and prosperity (Lakshmi) - and soon became the battle cry of India’s independence movement.
From Rabindranath Tagore’s 1896 Calcutta Session performance to the protests against the 1905 Bengal Partition, the song echoed on the lips of countless revolutionaries, including Bhikaji Cama, Veer Savarkar, and freedom fighters who faced the gallows chanting “Vande Mataram!”
PM Modi on the Spirit of Vande Mataram
The Prime Minister reflected that “when the British tried to portray India as weak and divided, Vande Mataram shattered that myth - presenting a vision of a Sujalam Sufalam Bharat (a prosperous India).”
He said that the song continues to remind citizens of India’s civilizational depth - a culture that balances power with morality, strength with compassion, and progress with peace.
PM Modi also noted that in 1937, when portions of the song were separated, it “fragmented its soul” - warning the nation to guard against divisive ideologies even today.
Commemorative Highlights
- Launch of Year-Long Nationwide Programme (2025 – 2026)
- Release of Commemorative Coin & Postage Stamp
- Mass Singing of Full Vande Mataram Across India
- Tributes to Unsung Freedom Heroes and Revolutionaries
- Cultural & Educational Programmes on Bankim Chandra’s Legacy
A Call for the Future: From Freedom to Developed India @ 2047
PM Modi emphasized that as India enters its Amrit Kaal, the mantra of Vande Mataram must guide the journey toward a developed, self-reliant Bharat.
He said:
“When India conquers new frontiers - from the Moon’s South Pole to global technology leadership - every heart naturally chants ‘Vande Mataram’.”
Highlighting India’s progress in science, innovation, and defence, the PM said that the spirit of Maa Bharati’s children - now 140 crore strong - will ensure that no dream is impossible.
Significance of 7 November
The date 7 November 1875 marks the auspicious Akshaya Navami when Bankim Chandra first wrote Vande Mataram.
Exactly 150 years later, India renews that legacy with a year-long celebration - a bridge connecting the country’s cultural roots to its futuristic aspirations.
Why This Matters
- Reinforces national unity and cultural identity
- Revives India’s literary and patriotic heritage
- Inspires youth participation and creative expression
- Strengthens India’s global cultural narrative
Event Attendees
The ceremony was attended by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Delhi Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, and Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, among other dignitaries and thousands of citizens.
Related Reads (NAVLIST)
150 Years of ‘Vande Mataram’: PM Modi releases commemorative stamp, coin – ET
Trichy Railway Division celebrates 150 Years of ‘Vande Mataram’ – TOI
‘Vande Mataram’ is voice of India’s soul, says UP BJP Chief – TOI
Keywords: Vande Mataram 150 Years, PM Modi Speech, Bankim Chandra Chatterji, Anandamath, National Song India, Vande Mataram Commemorative Coin
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