CM Calls ‘Vande Mataram’ the Soul of the Nation; Urges Citizens to take Five Pledges for a Viksit Bharat
PM addresses nation from New Delhi, Inaugurates 150 Years of “Vande Mataram”; Live Address Telecasted during State-Level Ceremony
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said that Vande Mataram is not just a song but the heartbeat, identity, and soul of India. He was addressing the gathering at the state-level celebration of the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, organized in Ambala on Friday. He expressed pride in participating in this historic event and congratulated the people of Haryana on completing 150 years of the song Vande Mataram. He said that the song symbolizes India’s eternal spirit, nationalism, and unity.
Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi addressed the nation from New Delhi on the occasion of the inaugural ceremony commemorating 150 years of the National Song Vande Mataram. He also inaugurated a year-long commemoration of Vande Mataram by releasing a commemorative stamp and a coin. The live telecast of the Prime Minister’s address from New Delhi, was also shown during the state-level ceremony. The Chief Minister and other dignitaries listened to his inspiring message that celebrated the unity, sacrifice, and patriotism symbolized by Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram is the heartbeat of Bharat – CM
Saini said Vande Mataram is not merely a patriotic hymn but a rising force that infused new life into India’s struggle for freedom. It embodies the Sanatan vision that views the motherland as a divine mother. The song connects every Indian with the values of duty, dignity, discipline, and sacrifice. He added that the song became a clarion call of courage and self-respect, it shook the British Empire and awakened the spirit of revolution among the youth. The British feared this song because, though it was not a weapon, it possessed power millions of times greater than weapons, he said.
The Chief Minister said that the essence of Vande Mataram lies in India’s nature and culture as it carries the murmur of our rivers, the greenery of our fields, and the pride of our land. It echoes in the austerity of Shivratri, in the joy of Baisakhi, in the colours of Holi, and in the lights of Diwali. It is also the sacred mantra of unity, he added.
Recounting the song’s history, the Chief Minister said Vande Mataram was composed in 1875 by Sh. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, and its famous public recitation was done by Sh. Rabindranath Tagore in 1896 in Kolkata. By 1905, during the movement against the partition of Bengal, the poem had been set to the classical raga Desh Malhar and became a marching anthem of inspiration. During national protests, Vande Mataram emerged as a powerful medium of nationalism, unity, and resistance against British rule. Its impact was so strong that the British government banned singing it, shared Saini.
The Chief Minister said that the song united people of all castes, religions, communities, and regions in one spirit, strengthening the idea of “unity in diversity” and inspiring millions to join the freedom struggle.
Ambala – The Land where the first spark of the 1857 uprising was ignited
The Chief Minister recalled that the spark of the first war of independence in 1857 ignited from Ambala’s sacred soil. This land has not only written but lived the history of valour, he said, adding that the state government has built a Shaheedi Smarak in Ambala Cantonment in honour of those brave heroes.
The Chief Minister strongly criticized those who object to Vande Mataram. He said they fail to understand India’s culture, soul, and national pride. Recalling history, he shared that in 1923, during the Congress session in Kakinada, Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar was invited to sing Vande Mataram, but Congress President Maulana Mohammad Ali objected on religious grounds. Later, in 1937, the Congress Working Committee formally decided to replace the national song to appease the Muslim League leaders.
A Song that Awakened a Nation
The Chief Minister said Vande Mataram awakened India’s self-respect and transformed the freedom struggle into a mass movement. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Chandrashekhar Azad, and thousands of martyrs went to the gallows singing this song. Lakhs of freedom fighters endured torture in prisons chanting it, and the caravan of freedom moved forward, he said.
Saini further added that during the Quit India Movement of 1942 led by Mahatma Gandhi, Vande Mataram was the mantra of patriotism and freedom. Slogans like Vande Mataram, Inquilab Zindabad, and Jai Hind echoed across the nation, inspiring Indians to resist British oppression until independence was achieved on August 15, 1947.
Vande Mataram – Declared National Song in 1950
The Chief Minister recalled that after independence, India’s first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad accorded Vande Mataram the status of the National Song in 1950. He said that a nation’s progress depends on the love of its people for their motherland. He emphasized that the essence of Vande Mataram remains as relevant today as during the freedom movement. To strengthen the spirit of unity and integrity, we must keep the flame of Vande Mataram forever burning, he said.
Five Pledges for Every Citizen
On this historic occasion, the Chief Minister urged every citizen of Haryana to take five pledges to give true meaning to the 150-year journey of Vande Mataram. He said the first pledge should be “Nation First”, placing the country above all in every action. The second pledge is “No Appeasement”, emphasizing a firm commitment to inclusive and balanced development. The third pledge calls for “Justice and Opportunity for All”, ensuring respect, equality, and dignity for the last person in society. The fourth pledge focuses on “Swadeshi and Innovation”, encouraging a rapid journey toward self-reliance and indigenous creativity. The fifth and final pledge is “Zero Tolerance for Anti-National Forces”, reaffirming an unwavering stand against any element that threatens national unity and integrity. He said that when these five pledges become part of every citizen’s life, the 150-year journey of Vande Mataram will achieve its complete and true purpose.