The government has announced that the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram will be observed nationwide from November 7, 2025, to November 7, 2026. Public gatherings across India will join in a collective recital of the song at 10 AM, reflecting its enduring legacy as a symbol of patriotism and unity.

Written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee on November 7, 1875, on the occasion of Akshaya Navami, Vande Mataram was first published in Chatterjee’s novel Anandamath in the literary magazine Bangadarshan. The song was first sung publicly at the Indian National Congress session in 1896 by Rabindranath Tagore, moving thousands of attendees to tears.

During India’s freedom struggle, Vande Mataram became a rallying cry against colonial rule. In 1905, British authorities fined 200 schoolchildren five rupees each for singing the song in Rangpur. Protesters across the country defied bans, with many facing police brutality and imprisonment. Freedom fighter Madanlal Dhingra famously invoked Vande Mataram as his last words before execution in 1909.

After independence, the Constituent Assembly recognized the song’s historical significance. On January 24, 1950, President Dr. Rajendra Prasad declared Vande Mataram as the national song, granting it equal respect alongside the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.

Prime Minister Modi described November 7 as a “momentous day for every Indian” and highlighted the song’s enduring role in inspiring generations. The year-long celebration aims to rekindle its patriotic spirit across schools, institutions, and public spaces nationwide.