VANDE MATARAM AT 150: WHY BLAZING PATRIOTISM STILL MATTER

 

As Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s iconic anthem completes 150 years, its call for civilizational self-reliance is more relevant than ever in the quest for Viksit Bharat.

NEW DELHI: “Vande Mataram” is amongst the few pieces of literature that have travelled far beyond the page. Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875, the song has spent the past 150 years moving between literature, politics, protest and national memory. It has become the song of celebration, pride and revolution when it comes to India and Independence. Its anniversary offers an opportunity not only to celebrate its history, but also to understand why it became one of the most powerful cultural symbols of India’s freedom movement.

“Vande Mataram” first appeared in the literary journal ‘Bangadarshan’ on November 7, 1875. It was later incorporated into Chattopadhyay’s novel Anandamath, published in 1882. The song personifies the motherland, presenting the nation as a figure worthy of devotion and reverence. The song has worked very hard towards mobilizing the national sentiment in people for centuries.

Its transformation from literary composition to political symbol accelerated during the Swadeshi Movement. “Vande Mataram” became a symbol of patriotism at meetings and movements, giving people a point of unification and a reminder, that the goal is the same for all, which is Freedom. Rabindranath Tagore famously sang it at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta.

The song’s significance lies partly in its ability to turn an abstract idea like patriotism, into something emotionally tangible in the form of singing. At a time when colonial rule attempted to define Indians through divisions, nationalist and Independence era literature helped create a broader sense of collective identity which transcended our differences which were many.

Overtime, however, some of the more debatable points of the song have come under the public eye, the song’s religious imagery have been a topic of debate about how it relates to India’s religious diversity. These discussions are part of the song’s modern history and show that national symbols can carry diverse meanings.

Nevertheless, its historical importance is undeniable. In 1950, the Constituent Assembly accorded “Vande Mataram” the status of India’s National Song, while “Jana Gana Mana” became the National Anthem.

The 150th anniversary is being commemorated through a year-long national programme running from November 2025 to November 2026, including mass singing, cultural programmes and exhibitions.