PM Modi Inaugurates 150 Years of Vande Mataram Commemoration
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the year-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of the national song "Vande Mataram" in New Delhi. The event included the release of a commemorative stamp and coin at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
Significance of Vande Mataram
“Vande Mataram is not just a word, it is a mantra, an energy, a dream, a resolve. It is the devotion to Mother India, the worship of Mother India. It connects us to our history and gives our future new courage. There is no resolve that cannot be achieved, no goal that we Indians cannot accomplish. We have to build a nation which is at the top on basis of knowledge, science and technology.”
Historical Context and Challenges
PM Modi highlighted that some important stanzas of the song were removed in 1937, which contributed to sowing seeds of partition. He described this exclusion as the loss of the song’s soul and flagged the ongoing challenge of a “divisive mindset” in India.
“Vande Mataram became the voice of India’s freedom struggle, expressing the feelings of every Indian. Unfortunately, in 1937, important stanzas of Vande Mataram… its soul was removed. The division of Vande Mataram also sowed the seeds of partition.”
Legacy and Future Vision
The prime minister emphasized the song’s role in uniting the nation during the freedom struggle and called for overcoming divisions to build a nation excelling in knowledge, science, and technology.
Author's summary: PM Modi commemorated 150 years of "Vande Mataram," stressing its unifying power and warning against divisive attitudes that still challenge India today.