The national song of India, 'Vande Mataram', has completed 150 years. It will be discussed in both houses of Parliament today. The discussion will begin with an address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay on November 7, 1875, this composition became the soul of the Indian independence movement. This song is not just a poem, but a symbol of India's unity, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion to the motherland. This song gave new energy to millions of countrymen in the struggle for independence. Let's take a look at the journey of this national song on its 150th anniversary.
'Vande Mataram' was first published in the Bangadarshan magazine in 1875. In 1882, it was included in Bankim Chandra's famous work, Anandamath. Rabindranath Tagore composed the music for the song. It was sung publicly for the first time at the Calcutta Congress session in 1896. On August 7, 1905, it was used for the first time as a political slogan when people took to the streets to protest against the partition of Bengal.
What is the novel 'Anandamath'?
In the novel Anandamath, a group of ascetics considers serving 'Mother India' as their religion. For them, 'Vande Mataram' is not just a song, but a symbol of worship. In the novel, the three idols of the mother represent the three forms of India: the glorious mother of the past, the suffering mother of the present, and the resurrected mother of the future. Aurobindo wrote that this mother is not a beggar with a begging bowl, but Mother India with a sword in seventy crore hands.
Learn about Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (1838-1894) was a great writer and thinker from Bengal. Through his works like Durgeshnandini, Kapalkundala, and Devi Chaudhurani, he instilled a sense of self-respect and patriotism in society. Through Vande Mataram, he taught the Indian people that the motherland is the supreme goddess. His song became the ideological foundation of modern Indian nationalism.
'Vande Mataram' became a song of resistance.
During the Swadeshi movement of 1905, this song became the slogan of freedom. From Kolkata to Lahore, people took to the streets, challenging British rule with chants of 'Vande Mataram'. In Bengal, a society called Bande Mataram was formed, which included leaders like Rabindranath Tagore. When the British government banned the song in schools and colleges, students continued to sing it without fear of arrest or punishment. This was the period when Vande Mataram became the voice of every Indian's heart.
The song had a unique impact on revolutionaries.
In 1907, when Bhikaji Cama unfurled the Indian tricolor for the first time in Stuttgart, Germany, 'Vande Mataram' was inscribed on it. Madan Lal Dhingra's last words before his execution in England were 'Vande Mataram'. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was also welcomed with this song in South Africa. Indians living abroad also adopted it as a message of freedom. During this time, this song resided in the hearts of every Indian who wanted to free India from the shackles of slavery.
How it became the national song
In 1950, the Constituent Assembly unanimously declared Vande Mataram as the national song of India. The then President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, said that Vande Mataram had played a historic role in the freedom struggle and would be given the same respect as 'Jana Gana Mana'. Since then, this song has become a symbol of the country's pride, unity, and national spirit.
Nationwide celebrations on its 150th anniversary
This year, the central government is celebrating the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram across India. A national-level inaugural ceremony will be held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Delhi. Special events will be organized across the country at the district and tehsil levels on November 7th. On this occasion, a postage stamp, a commemorative coin, and an exhibition based on Vande Mataram will also be released. Special programs related to it will also be broadcast on All India Radio and Doordarshan. 'Vande Mataram' will be honored globally as well.
Cultural programs, music festivals, and tree plantation drives will be organized at all Indian embassies and missions. A tree plantation and mural campaign will be conducted across the country with the theme 'Vande Mataram: Salute to Mother Earth'. Murals are paintings created directly on permanent surfaces such as walls or ceilings. The aim of this campaign is to convey to the new generation that service to the motherland is true patriotism.
Even after 150 years, Vande Mataram still resonates in the heart of every Indian. This song is not just a memory of the past, but an inspiration for future generations. It reminds us that India's strength lies in its unity and culture.
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