New Delhi/Lucknow — As India launches a year-long commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the National Song, ‘Vande Mataram,’ Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has penned a powerful article asserting the hymn’s role as the “Eternal Voice of National Devotion” and the very “heartbeat of the Indian soul.”
The piece, which coincides with nationwide events marking the song’s composition by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875, highlights its profound historical and spiritual significance.
Key Highlights of the Chief Minister’s Message:
- Beyond a Song, a Mantra: CM Adityanath emphasizes that ‘Vande Mataram’ is not just a patriotic song but a “divine mantra of national awakening” that rekindled India’s identity and fueled the independence movement.
- Embodiment of ‘Bharat Mata’: The Chief Minister reiterates the Indian philosophy where the nation is seen as a “living, nurturing, and sentient mother,” with patriotism manifesting as “devotion, discipline, and selfless service,” transcending caste, creed, or regional bias.
- Historic Catalyst for Freedom: He recalls the song’s integral role, from inspiring the Sanyasi Movement through Bankim Chandra’s novel Anandamath to becoming the rallying cry during the 1905 Bengal Partition movement and the final chant of revolutionaries.
- Constituent Assembly’s Affirmation: Adityanath notes that the Constituent Assembly’s unanimous adoption of ‘Vande Mataram’ as the National Song on January 24, 1950, affirmed its eternal spirit of unity.
- Critique of Skepticism: The article strongly criticizes what it terms “historical amnesia” and “narrow-mindedness” of those who question the song’s sanctity or dismiss it as communal, calling it an insult to India’s spiritual heritage.
- Vision for the Future: Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,” the Chief Minister urges the youth to embrace the song’s essence as a lifelong “pledge to protect her, to make her prosperous, and to uphold her pride” in their daily actions.
The publication of the article comes as the nation, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, begins a year of celebrations that will include the release of commemorative stamps and coins, and mass recitals of the song across public places. The focus remains on connecting the younger generation with the revolutionary spirit and enduring legacy of the national song.
