Context: The Union Cabinet has announced a year-long celebration marking 150 years of India’s national song, Vande Mataram, to honour its historical and cultural significance in the nation’s freedom struggle.
About Vande Mataram
Composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji in 1875, Vande Mataram first appeared in his patriotic novel Anand Math (1882). The song became a rallying cry for freedom fighters, symbolizing devotion to the motherland and inspiring countless Indians during the national movement.
On January 24, 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, declared Vande Mataram as the National Song of India, granting it equal status with the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
Although the Constitution of India, under Article 51A(a), enjoins citizens to respect the Constitution, its ideals, institutions, the National Flag, and the National Anthem, it does not specifically mention the National Song.
Nevertheless, Vande Mataram remains deeply revered as a symbol of India’s unity, sacrifice, and spirit of independence.
Significance:
The 150th anniversary celebration aims to rekindle the spirit of patriotism and pay tribute to Vande Mataram—a song that continues to evoke pride and remind citizens of India’s collective struggle for freedom.