PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Year-long Commemoration of 150th Anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’ in New Delhi, Delhi

On November 7, 2025, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the year-long national commemoration of “Vande Mataram”, national song of India, during the Inaugural Ceremony, organized by the Ministry of Culture, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The celebration marks the start of a year-long nationwide campaign, which will continue until November 7, 2026.
• During the event, PM Narendra Modi released a Rs.150 commemorative stamp and Rs.150 coin and launched a dedicated portal marking the 150th anniversary of the national song “Vande Mataram.”

About Vande Mataram:

Overview: Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Navami on November 7, 1875, was originally composed in Sanskritised Bengali.

• It was first published in his literary magazine Bangadarshan as part of the novel ‘Anandamath’ and was later as a standalone book in 1882.

First Public Rendition:: The song was first sung publicly at the Indian National Congress (INC) session in 1896 by Rabindranath Tagore. The slogan “Vande Mataram(“I bow to thee, Mother”) was frequently heard in marches, protests, and revolutionary movements, symbolizing unity, sacrifice, and the sanctity of motherland.

Adoption:On 24 January 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the then President of the Constituent Assembly, declared “Vande Mataram” as the National Song of India, giving it equal status with the National Anthem “Jana Gana Mana.”

150th Anniversary Celebrations of Vande Mataram:

Background: On October 1, 2025, the Union Cabinet, led by PM Narendra Modi, approved the nationwide celebrations. On October 24, 2025, the National Implementation Committee approved a year-long commemoration to be held from November 7, 2025, to November 7, 2026.

Dignitaries Present: Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ministry of Culture, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Saxena, and Delhi Chief Minister(CM) Rekha Gupta were also present at the occasion.

Key Events: The event includes a curated exhibition showcasing the 150-year history of “Vande Mataram”, a grand concert titled “Vande Mataram: Naad Ekam, Roopam Anekam”, featuring about 75 musicians led by violin maestro Dr. Manjunath Mysore, and screening of a short documentary on 150 Years of Vande Mataram.

Nationwide Celebration: Various departments, ministries, organizations, universities, citizens, students, youth, and cultural groups participated in the celebration through mass singing, Prabhat Pheris, exhibitions, and concerts.

About Commemorative Coin & Postage Stamp:

Coin: The obverse side of the Rs.150 coin features the Lion capital of Ashoka, with Satyameva Jayate, inscribed below, and the denomination of Rs.150 marked in Hindi and English. It is issued by the India Government Mint, under the Ministry of Finance(MoF).

• The reverse side features the inscription “Vande Mataram-150 years (1875-2025)”, along with a depiction of Bharat Mata holding the Indian tricolour. It also includes a portrait of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, surrounded by artistic motifs inspired by India’s freedom struggle.
• The coin, made of nickel-brass alloy, weighs approximately 35 grams (gms) and is 44-millimeter (mm) diameter.

Postage Stamp: It features a portrait of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, stylized script of the words “Vande Mataram” in Bengali and Devanagiri. It is issued by India Post, Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications.

About Ministry of Communications:
Union Minister – Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia (Constituency – Guna, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS) – Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani (Constituency – Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, AP)