India, on November 7, 2025, marked a historic cultural milestone, celebrating 150 years of its National Song, Vande Mataram—a hymn that has inspired generations with its message of devotion, unity, and patriotism. Composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875 and later featured in his landmark novel Anandamath (1882), Vande Mataram transcended literature to become a powerful emblem of India’s national identity.
Set to music by Rabindranath Tagore, the song played a pivotal role in India’s freedom struggle, inspiring leaders, revolutionaries, and citizens to rally for the motherland. The celebrations honor this enduring legacy and reaffirm the timeless values of courage, sacrifice, and national pride that the song embodies.
Celebration of 150 years of Vande Mataram at the Indian Embassy in Cairo. (Photo courtesy: X@indembcairo)
Indian diplomatic missions across the globe commemorated 150 years of the country's national song with mass renditions, cultural performances and community gatherings, reaffirming the spirit of unity and national pride among the diaspora.
Inaugurating the year-long commemoration of 150 Years of the national song, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that Vande Mataram is not merely a word—it is a mantra, an energy, a dream, and a solemn resolve. "Vande Mataram, while being the anthem of freedom’s martyrs, also serves as a timeless inspiration. It reminds us not only of how our freedom was won, but of how we must safeguard it," he said.
