Barpeta: In a moment of patriotic celebration, Member of Parliament Bhubaneswar Kalita held a press conference at the BJP district office to commemorate 150 years of the iconic song Vande Mataram — a song that once reverberated through India’s freedom struggle as a symbol of unity and resistance.
Addressing the media, Kalita said, “Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875, is a lyrical Sanskrit-Bengali composition filled with reverence for the virtues and glories of the motherland.” He highlighted how the song gained widespread popularity after its inclusion in Chattopadhyay’s novel Anandamath in 1882, and later became a rallying cry during the Swadeshi Movement and the anti-partition protests of 1905.
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“Vande Mataram echoed across streets and gatherings as a symbol of national unity and defiance,” the MP said. He also reflected on the debates surrounding the song’s religious interpretation during the 1923 Congress session at Kakinada, where objections were raised over its use. Following this, on the advice of Jawaharlal Nehru and other leaders, the Congress decided to adopt only the first two stanzas to uphold communal harmony within the independence movement.
Kalita recalled that on January 24, 1950, the Constituent Assembly conferred Vande Mataram with the status of India’s national song, distinct from the national anthem.
Concluding his remarks, the MP said, “Even after 150 years, Vande Mataram continues to inspire every Indian with its timeless message of devotion, sacrifice, and unity — a song that remains the heartbeat of our national spirit.”
