Amit Shah launches nationwide campaign to mark 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a national campaign to mark the 150th anniversary of the composition of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ at a function held at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state headquarters in Patna on Friday. To mark the occasion, BJP leaders sang the complete version together.

The BJP is celebrating this milestone through grand programmes, recognising ‘Vande Mataram’ as a symbol of national spirit, the history of independence, and cultural unity.

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On this occasion, Amit Shah also led BJP leaders in taking an oath from the ‘Swadeshi Sankalp Patra’ (Indigenous Resolve Document).

He said that at the time of independence, the concept of ‘Swaraj’ was incomplete without ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Swabhasha’. He urged party members to adopt indigenous products in their daily lives, make every home a symbol of Swadeshi, and contribute to building a self-reliant nation.

Launching a series of special programmes across the country, the Union Home Minister said that the Government of India has decided to organise nationwide events for a year, starting today, to mark 150 years of this immortal hymn. Through these celebrations, the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ will resonate across the nation once again, inspiring the youth to internalise the idea of “Cultural Nationalism.”

He said that Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s words were both a prayer and a prophecy. “It was his first proclamation of cultural nationalism. It reminded us that Bharat is not just a geographical territory but a geo-cultural civilisation.”

Shah added, “Written during one of the darkest hours of colonial rule, ‘Vande Mataram’ is the song of freedom, the spirit of unyielding resolve, and the first mantra of India’s awakening. This sacred chant will continue to echo through eternity, reminding us to view our history, culture, values, and traditions through the vision of Bharatiyata (Indianness).”

He further said that this song is not merely a remembrance of the past but also a call to the future. Even today, Vande Mataram inspires our vision of a Viksit Bharat 2047—a confident, self-reliant, and resurgent India.