Raipur, November 7<\/p>\n
Across the whole country today, the nation\u2019s collective voice rose in unison to sing Vande Mataram on the 150th anniversary of the country\u2019s national song – an anthem that once stirred a sleeping nation into awakening. In Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai joined senior officials and staff at the Mahanadi Bhawan Secretariat for a spirited group rendition of the song, as the air filled with echoes of patriotism and gratitude. The Chief Minister also participated virtually in the national ceremony held in New Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address, described Vande Mataram as \u201ca stirring expression of the devotion of Mother India.\u201d He said that the collective singing of Vande Mataram creates \u201ca rhythm, a resonance, and a harmony that touches the heart.\u201d The Prime Minister emphasized that the song\u2019s essence lies in its invocation of Bharat Mata – representing India\u2019s eternal identity, independent spirit, and cultural continuity.<\/p>\n
\u201cVande Mataram was not merely a song during the freedom struggle; it was the battle cry of India\u2019s awakening,\u201d PM Narendra Modi said. \u201cIt inspired revolutionaries to break the chains of servitude and gave strength to dream of a free India. Within it resides the saga of our ancient civilization, our cultural richness, and our prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n
He noted that the song\u2019s power transcends time: \u201cIt remains as relevant today as it was during the freedom movement \u2014 a timeless anthem that continues to stir the nation\u2019s soul.\u201d<\/p>\n
Extending greetings to the people of Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai described Vande Mataram as a \u201csymbol of boundless love, gratitude, and sacred duty toward the motherland.\u201d He said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the nation came together in one voice to pay homage to the motherland through the collective singing of Vande Mataram.<\/p>\n
CM Vishnu Deo Sai observed that the yearlong commemoration, inaugurated by the Prime Minister today, marks a \u201cglorious milestone in the journey of this immortal creation.\u201d
\nHe noted that the release of a commemorative coin dedicated to Vande Mataram adds a tangible memory to this historical moment.<\/p>\n
Calling it \u201ca poetic embodiment of India\u2019s strength, prosperity, and divinity,\u201d the Chief Minister reflected on its role in uniting generations around a shared sense of national pride and self-respect. He said, \u201cThis song is an awakening \u2014 a call that has kept the lamp of unity and dignity alive across centuries.\u201d<\/p>\n
*A Song Born of Reverence and Revolution*<\/p>\n
Chief Minister Sai recounted that Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay composed Vande Mataram on November 7, 1875, later including it in his landmark novel Anandamath.
\n\u201cConceived as a hymn to the motherland,\u201d the Chief Minister said, \u201cit became the most powerful inspiration of the freedom movement.\u201d Countless revolutionaries, he recalled, \u201csacrificed their lives chanting Vande Mataram with a smile.\u201d He highlighted its pivotal role during the Swadeshi Movement of 1905, when the song emerged as the unifying cry against the partition of Bengal. \u201cFrom north to south, east to west,\u201d he said, \u201cit became a mantra of cultural unity and patriotism.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen one hears Vande Mataram,\u201d CM Sai said, \u201cthe heart fills with energy, pride, and devotion. It reminds us that our soil, our water, our food, and our culture are the life-giving forces of our nation.\u201d
\nHe drew a striking cultural contrast: \u201cIn Europe, the land is called \u2018Fatherland,\u2019 but in India, we call it \u2018Motherland.\u2019 As the Ramayana says, Janani Janmabhoomishcha Swargadapi Gariyasi \u2014 one\u2019s mother and motherland are greater than heaven itself. Vande Mataram was born of that same eternal emotion.\u201d<\/p>\n
*A Pledge for the Future: \u201cDedicated to Bharat Mata and Chhattisgarh Mahatari\u201d*<\/p>\n
The Chief Minister said the initiative offers younger generations a profound opportunity to understand the struggles of the past and the role of Vande Mataram in shaping India\u2019s independence movement.
\nHe called upon citizens to take a renewed vow \u2014 to dedicate themselves to building a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) and Viksit Chhattisgarh, in devotion to Bharat Mata and Chhattisgarh Mahatari.<\/p>\n
During the national ceremony, Prime Minister Modi released a commemorative coin and postal stamp marking the 150th anniversary and inaugurated the \u201cVande Bharat Portal\u201d (vandematram150.in) – a digital platform allowing citizens to record their own renditions of Vande Mataram and become part of this living heritage. \u201cThis initiative,\u201d he said, \u201coffers every Indian the chance to lend their voice to the country\u2019s timeless legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
*An Exhibition of Memory and Pride*<\/p>\n
In Raipur, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also inaugurated a photo exhibition at the Mahanadi Bhawan Secretariat dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. The exhibition traces the song\u2019s journey – from its creation by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay to its rise as the anthem of national consciousness.<\/p>\n
Calling the exhibition \u201can inspiring visual chronicle,\u201d CM Sai said it illuminates untold stories from India\u2019s freedom struggle and reflects the nation\u2019s indomitable spirit. \u201cSuch exhibitions,\u201d he remarked, \u201cconnect the youth with the deeper emotional and philosophical roots of India\u2019s independence and the enduring inspiration of Vande Mataram.\u201d In the echoes of Vande Mataram, India once again found its voice \u2014 one of devotion, unity, and destiny.<\/p>\n
Among those present during the occasion were Member of Parliament Chintamani Maharaj, Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Subodh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Department of Culture Dr. Rohit Yadav, Secretary to the Chief Minister Rahul Bhagat, Mukesh Bansal, P. Dayanand, and Dr. Basavaraju S., along with other senior officials and staff.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Raipur, November 7 Across the whole country today, the nation\u2019s collective voice rose in unison…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22479,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22478","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cg","category-featured"],"yoast_head":"\n