Agartala, November 07, 2025: Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on Friday said that the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ will continue to inspire patriotism and unity among future generations.

Speaking at a state-level programme organised at the Secretariat Complex to mark the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’, Dr. Saha said the song played a pivotal role in India’s freedom struggle and continues to embody the nation’s spirit of devotion to the motherland.

He informed that as per the decision of the Central Government, the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’, composed by literary icon Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, will be celebrated across the country for one year from November 7, 2025. The decision was approved by the Union Cabinet on October 1 this year.

Tracing the historical significance of the song, the Chief Minister recalled that Bankim Chandra wrote ‘Vande Mataram’ on Akshay Navami, November 7, 1875, and that Rabindranath Tagore first sang it at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress in Kolkata. The song, he said, became a “mantra of liberation” during the freedom movement, particularly during the partition of Bengal in 1905.

Dr. Saha added that the words ‘Vande Mataram’ were inscribed on the tricolour flag hoisted in 1907 and were also sung during the declaration of the Azad Hind Government. He recalled that in 1950, President Dr. Rajendra Prasad granted ‘Vande Mataram’ equal status and respect as the national anthem.

Announcing the state’s year-long celebration plan, the Chief Minister said the programme would unfold in four phases, with events held across all districts, subdivisions, and local bodies. He said various educational and cultural initiatives would be undertaken to spread awareness among students about the song’s legacy.

Chief Secretary Jitendra Kumar Sinha, ICA Secretary P.K. Chakraborty, and other dignitaries were present at the event.