History 4 November 2026

Vande Mataram at 150 – the national song from Bangadarshan to the Constituent Assembly

Five key points

1. Origin: written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (Chatterjee); the 150-year count runs from 7 November 1875, and the song first appeared in the literary journal 'Bangadarshan'.
2. Anandamath: Bankim later included the song in his novel 'Anandamath', published as a book in 1882.
3. Freedom struggle: Rabindranath Tagore sang it at the 1896 Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress; 'Vande Mataram' was first used as a political slogan on 7 August 1905, during the movement against the Partition of Bengal.
4. Tamil Nadu link: Mahakavi Subramania Bharati translated the song into Tamil, carrying its message to Tamil readers during the freedom movement.
5. Status: on 24 January 1950, Dr Rajendra Prasad, President of the Constituent Assembly, declared that 'Vande Mataram' shall be honoured equally with 'Jana Gana Mana' (the National Anthem) and have equal status with it.

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Sources: www.pmindia.gov.in · static.pib.gov.in · static.pib.gov.in · newindiasamachar.pib.gov.in · www.newsonair.gov.in · www.infitt.org · swarajyamag.com · amritkaal.nic.in · www.goa.gov.in · www.deccanherald.com