Vande Mataram@150: Assam CM leads tribute to national song

Guwahati: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday led a mass rendition of Vande Mataram at the Janata Bhavan to mark the 150th anniversary of the national song.The event saw the song performed in its original form in a powerful homage to the composition that once ignited the spirit of freedom across the nation.Addressing the gathering, Sarma called the occasion “a moment of immense pride for every Indian”. He said, “With reverence in our hearts, we come together to honour that sacred song which once awakened a dormant nation, filled it with courage and sowed in every heart the indomitable dream of freedom.”Tracing the origins of Vande Mataram, the CM recalled that it was penned by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay on Nov 7, 1875 — the auspicious day of Akshaya Navami.

“Bankim Chandra did not merely write a poem, he invoked the divine spirit of the Motherland, envisioning Bharat Mata as a sacred force nurturing her children with courage, wisdom and prosperity,” he said.Sarma recounted how Rabindranath Tagore first sang Vande Mataram at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta, and how it became the anthem of the Swadeshi movement during the 1905 partition of Bengal.

“It inspired millions to boycott foreign goods, revive indigenous industries and reclaim India’s pride,” he said.He also highlighted the British govt’s attempts to suppress the song, banning it in schools and public meetings. “Truth, ideals and patriotism can never be suppressed,” Sarma said, paying tribute to revolutionaries such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, Bhagat Singh and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who carried the flame of Vande Mataram through the freedom struggle.Sarma announced that under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Union cabinet has launched a year-long nationwide celebration titled Vande Mataram@150, which will continue till Nov 7, 2026. The campaign will include mass recitations, musical performances, police band renditions and educational events across all states, UTs and districts.“Today’s celebration is not just about remembering the past, it is a day to renew our pledge,” he said. “We reaffirm our commitment to building a strong, self-reliant and progressive Assam that stands as a confident partner in India’s journey towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.”