Vande Mataram: 150 Years and Beyond

Vande Mataram: 150 Years and Beyond

Once sung in our morning school assemblies, India’s national song Vande Mataram (which translates to Mother, I Bow to Thee) has now completed 150 years — a milestone that invites us to reflect on its journey, its legacy, and its timeless emotional power. Composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (1838–1894), 'Vande Mataram' was first published in the literary journal Bangadarshan on 7 November 1875. Let’s take a moment to cherish this eternal song- one that once fueled
India’s freedom cry and continues to echo in the soul of our nation. On November 07, 2025, Prime Minister of India inaugurated the year-long commemoration of the national song’s 150^th anniversary and released a commemorative stamp and coin to mark the occasion.

 

                                Image Source: https://colnect.com/en/stamps/stamp/512587-Centenary_Vande_Mataram_Patriotic_Song-India | License: Government of India – GODL

Historical Significance

The history of India’s national song dates back to 19^th century when the Indian national identity was still forming under British rule. Although the song appeared first in Bangadarshan magazine on 7 November 1875, it gained mass recognition only after it was included in Bankim Chandra' s revolutionary novel Anandamath (1882).

1896: Vande Mataram was sung in 1896 at the Indian National Congress session in Kolkata by Rabindranath Tagore.

1905: Bande Mataram Sampradaya was founded in North Calcutta to promote the idea of the Motherland as a mission and a religious passion. Every Sunday, the members of the society went out in Prabhat Pheris, singing “Vande Mataram” and accepting voluntary contributions from the people in support of the motherland. Rabindranath Tagore also sometimes joined the Prabhat Pheris of the Sampradaya.

At the Varanasi session of the Indian National Congress in 1905, the song 'Vande Mataram' was adopted for all-India occasion and as a political slogan it was first used on 7 August 1905 when thousands of students, representing all communities, rent the sky with cries of Vande Mataram and other slogans as they went in procession towards the town hall in Calcutta (Kolkata) in support of Swadeshi movement.

1906: English daily, Bande Mataram was launched by Bipin Chandra Pal with Sri Aurobindo later joining as joint editor. It ran powerful aggressive editorials against British rule and openly rejected moderate constitutional petitions and demanded direct national awakening. The name “Bande Mataram” itself was chosen because — by then — the song had become a symbol of fearless national spirit. So Bipin Chandra Pal’s “Bande Mataram” editorial line basically transformed the phrase into a political war-cry.

One of the most famous messages written in the paper was:

“We will not beg for liberty — we will create it.”

There were many instances of people being punished for chanting Vande Mataram in public places and during rallies, they were put behind the bars or were imposed fines. In 1908, at Belgaum (Karnataka), on the day Lokmanya Tilak was being deported to Mandalay in Burma, the police thrashed many boys and arrested many persons for chanting Vande Mataram against a verbal order prohibiting the same.

1907: Madam Bhikaji Cama raised the tricolor flag for the first-time outside India in Stuttgart, Berlin. The words Vande Mataram were written on the flag.

1909: When Madan Lal Dhingra was hanged in England, his last words before he went to the gallows were “Bande Mataram.”

1912: when Gopal Krishna Gokhale arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, he was welcomed by a grand procession accompanied by cries of 'Vande Mataram.'  

Vande Mataram was not just a song — it became the emotional fuel of India’s independence movement. From secret meetings of revolutionaries to mass Swadeshi rallies, these two words held together an entire nation in spirit. It was not merely sung; it was felt — as the heartbeat of a country fighting for its Motherland. From Bengal’s streets to Bombay’s core and Punjab’s plains, the refrain of "Vande Mataram" echoed as a symbol of resistance against colonial rule.

 

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (1838-1894)

Born in Naihati (now in West Bengal) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (1838–1894) stands as one of the tallest figures in Indian literary and intellectual history. He was a leading 19th-century Bengali writer whose novels, poetry, and essays shaped modern Bengali prose and early Indian nationalism. He began his career writing romantic novels in Bengali — a completely new genre for that time. His early works like:

·         Durgeshnandini (1865) – first Bengali romance novel

·         Kapalkundala (1866) – psychological and emotional themes, a literary breakthrough

·         Anandamath (1882) – historical-political novel where Vande Mataram appears

·         Devi Chaudhurani (1884) – portrayal of female leadership and rebellion

·         Krishnacharitra (1886) – philosophical interpretation of Krishna

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee did not raise slogans on streets — he raised consciousness in society. He helped Indians understand that India is not just geography — it is a Mother, a living entity. His contribution in the national freedom struggle will remain immortal.

 

National Status

On January 24, 1950, it was adopted by the constituent assembly as India’s National song along with ‘Jana Gana Mana’ as India’s National Anthem. Dr. Rajendra Prasad addressed the Constituent Assembly, stating that Vande Mataram, due to its significant role in the freedom movement, should have the same status as the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, and be honored equally.

Why Jana Gana Mana became the anthem?

It had a more inclusive, pan-Indian geographic reference, it had a definite musical format suited for official ceremonies and it avoided any perception of religious symbolism affecting minorities. But this never reduced the emotional importance of Vande Mataram. It continued to be printed in NCERT books, sung at national ceremonies, and quoted in Parliament.

Even though the Constitution does not explicitly use the words “National Song” in its written text, this position is based on the Constituent Assembly resolution — which holds constitutional value.

 

Why Vande Mataram Still Matters — Even After 150 Years???

Even today, when people say “Vande Mataram”, it triggers an instinctive sense of belonging. The song still matters because it celebrates the land and not just the nation-state, it brings unity beyond language, caste, religion or region, it symbolizes collective sacrifice during the freedom struggle and it is a bridge between the cultural past and present India. From school assemblies to political rallies, from cinema to cultural ceremonies — “Vande Mataram” still echoes whenever India needs a reminder of what we fought for, and what we stand for. And we still see how alive this sentiment is — even today, after every patriotic film in theatres, at cricket stadiums when India wins, in college debates, in parades, in moments of national pride — the crowd instinctively raises the slogan “Vande Mataram!”.It is not rehearsed. It is not forced. It just comes from within. That spontaneous rise of the slogan proves that this song is not merely a relic of the freedom struggle — it continues to be the emotional heartbeat of Indian nationalism.

As the nation celebrates this milestone year, Vande Mataram remains a reminder of where we came from — and what we must always remain worthy of.