On the occasion of the completion of 150 years of India's national song 'Vande Mataram', Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a year-long nationwide commemoration on Friday at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated a year-long commemoration marking 150 years since the composition of the national song 'Vande Mataram' on Friday at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. On this occasion, the Prime Minister released a commemorative postage stamp and a commemorative coin, and also launched the official website of 'Vande Mataram'.
This event marks the beginning of a nationwide commemoration to be held from November 7, 2025, to November 7, 2026, celebrating 150 years of this timeless composition. 'Vande Mataram' not only served as an inspiration for the Indian independence movement but also continues to be a symbol of national pride, unity, and dedication to the motherland today.
Vande Mataram: The Call of India's Soul – PM Modi
Addressing the event, Prime Minister Modi stated, "Vande Mataram is not just a song; it is the call of India's soul. It inspired millions of Indians at every stage of the freedom struggle and awakened the spirit of sacrifice for the motherland." He further added that this song, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, continues to evoke a surge of patriotism in the heart of every Indian even today.
The Prime Minister described Vande Mataram as "a symbol of India's cultural, spiritual, and national unity." "When we say Vande Mataram, we don't just utter words — we bow to the land that gave us birth, bestowed values upon us, and gave us our identity," said PM Modi.
A 150-Year-Old Echo: Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's Historic Composition
In 1875, on the day of Akshaya Navami, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed Vande Mataram. The song was first published as part of his famous novel 'Anandamath' in the literary magazine 'Bangadarshan'. This song infused new energy and national consciousness into India's freedom movement. Freedom fighters adopted it as the "musical symbol" of the struggle for independence.
Leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Mahatma Gandhi honored it as a symbol of the national spirit of independent India.
Postage Stamp, Commemorative Coin, and Digital Platform Launched
At the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Modi released a commemorative postage stamp and a special 150-rupee coin to mark the completion of 150 years of Vande Mataram. Concurrently, he launched the 'Vande Mataram Portal' (www.vandemataram.gov.in) — an interactive website that will provide the history, translations, rare archival material, recordings of the song in various languages, and special educational content for schools.
The Prime Minister stated that in the digital age, this initiative would serve as a bridge to convey the spirit of "Vande Mataram" to the new generation. Throughout this year-long commemoration, cultural programs, plays, seminars, painting exhibitions, and student competitions will be organized in various parts of the country. The Ministry of Culture announced that the celebrations would conclude on November 7, 2026, with a National Cultural Festival, in which artists, scholars, and youth from across the country will participate.
The Culture Minister said, "Vande Mataram sang of India's unity; today, with the same spirit, we will take this festival to every village and every school. 'Vande Mataram' is not merely a national song but a hymn to the motherland — in which the land is depicted as the embodiment of power, prosperity, and divinity. The lines of the song, 'Sujalam Sufalam Malayajashitalam' (rich in water, rich in fruits, cooled by the breeze from the Malaya mountains), emotionally portray India's nature, culture, and prosperity.
