New Delhi, Nov 7 (UNI) As a tribute to India’s national song — ‘Vande Mataram’, Delhi Assembly on Friday unveiled a plaque engraved with the complete text of the song to commemorate 150 years of it’s composition.
Inaugurating the tablet , Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta said, “Vande Mataram is a timeless anthem that binds every Indian to the spirit of our motherland.”
Recalling its origins, Gupta shared how Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, a distinguished civil servant and visionary writer, composed this eternal hymn on Ashwin Navami, November 7, 1875, inspired by the pain and humiliation he endured under colonial rule. He narrated how the song later found a place in Anandamath (1882), where the saints of the monastery embodied the religion of patriotism.
The portrayal of three idols of Bharat Mata — one divine, one in distress, and one destined to rise again — symbolizes India’s timeless journey from subjugation to resurgence, he added.
Outlining the song’s importance, the Speaker highlighted that Vande Mataram became the anthem of India’s freedom movement, first sung publicly by Rabindranath Tagore at the Congress session of 1896 and later echoing across the nation during the partition of Bengal in 1905.
He said the song inspired countless revolutionaries, from Bhagat Singh’s courtroom cry of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” to Madam Bhikaji Cama’s unfurling of the tricolour in Berlin, inscribed with the words Vande Mataram. He emphasized that this anthem transcends politics, religion, and region , “it belongs to 140 crore Indians, symbolizing our collective spirit, unity, and pride.”
To mark this historic occasion, the Delhi Vidhan Sabha Building will be illuminated this evening in the vibrant colours of the Tiranga, symbolizing the spirit of freedom, pride, and unity that Vande Mataram embodies, Gupta announced.
The programme also featured captivating cultural performances by artists from the Sahitya Kala Parishad who brought alive the spirit of patriotism and national unity through music and dance inspired by “Vande Mataram.” Their performances beautifully reflected India’s rich cultural heritage and the emotional power of the song that has inspired generations.
The event also saw participation by Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht, MLAs Sanjay Goyal, Karnail Singh, Anil Goyal and Chandan Kumar Choudhary.
