Odisha to Hold Statewide ‘Vande Mataram’ Celebrations: CM Majhi

Bhubaneswar, Dec 9 : Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday announced a year-long, statewide celebration of Vande Mataram to mark the 150th anniversary of the national song. The celebrations will be held across every district, school, university, and cultural institution in Odisha.

Making a statement in the Odisha Assembly, the Chief Minister said each word of Vande Mataram reflects the leadership, courage, and spirit of India’s freedom struggle. He described the commemoration as a “sacred opportunity” for lawmakers, parliamentarians, and public representatives to honour this enduring legacy.

Majhi said the song once united the nation—from North to South and East to West—under a single patriotic voice. He added that the 150th anniversary offers a renewed opportunity to bring the country together and work toward fulfilling the dreams of the freedom fighters.

Reflecting on history, the Chief Minister noted that when Vande Mataram completed 50 years, India was still under colonial rule, and during its centenary, the nation faced the restrictions of the Emergency. He recalled the Prime Minister’s recent remarks expressing pain over those periods, stating that such reflections remind the country to protect democratic values.

Calling Vande Mataram the “soul of the freedom movement,” Majhi said the song played a pivotal role in inspiring Indians during the struggle for independence. “The 150 years of Vande Mataram are our inspiration and strength. We will achieve a developed India by 2047,” he said.

Majhi described the national song as a symbol of India’s unbroken cultural flow and a source of collective strength. He said this moment should be used to draw “renewed energy” to move the nation forward.

The Chief Minister expressed regret that only two stanzas of Vande Mataram were officially recognized as the national song, calling it an appeasement to certain groups. He questioned whether those opposing the song today are more patriotic than figures like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Ashfaqulla Khan, or former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, all of whom embraced the song.

He criticised “vested groups” for attempting to portray the song as communal over the past nine decades and appealed to all citizens to sing the national song with pride. “The song that inspired freedom fighters must once again be sung aloud to build a new India,” he said. “Let Vande Mataram be the mantra that unites the nation, not divides it.”

Majhi praised Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay for the immortal creation first published on November 7, 1875, in Ananda Math, saying the song ignited patriotism among millions suffering under British rule. He concluded by emphasising that Vande Mataram remains an eternal source of inspiration for generations.