Bhubaneswar: At a special program organized by the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department at Rabindra Mandap today, Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi marked the 150th anniversary of the national song ‘Vande Mataram,’ written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
He declared ‘Vande Mataram’ as the country’s first revolutionary slogan and more than just a nationalistic song, calling it a tribute to the motherland.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister recalled that a new era began on 7 November 1875, when ‘Vande Mataram’ was first published through Chattopadhyay’s immortal work, “Ananda Math.” He noted that the walls of the British government shook when freedom fighters protested on the streets by chanting slogans like ‘Vande Mataram,’ ‘Inquilab Zindabad,’ and singing nationalist songs.
The state government wholeheartedly welcomed the initiative of the Prime Minister, and the Chief Minister announced that ‘Vande Mataram’ celebrations would be held in every district, school, university, and cultural centre of Odisha.
Appealing to the youth, the Chief Minister emphasized that patriotism is not only learned by reading history but must be followed in real life. He equated loving the country with responsibility, discipline, and work.
Law, Excise, and Works Minister Shri Prithviraj Harichandan also spoke, stating that ‘Vande Mataram’ is not just a song but a symbol of the country’s unity, freedom, and national pride. He credited Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay with awakening the Indian public through this song, guiding the nation towards the freedom movement.
The event at Rabindra Mandap also featured a photo exhibition organized for the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram.’ The Director of the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyay, delivered the welcome speech, and the Secretary of the Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy, Dr. Chandrashekhar Hota, proposed the vote of thanks.