Chandigarh, November 7, 2025:The Department of Cultural Affairs, Chandigarh Administration, organized a grand programme to commemorate 150 years of the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ at Rani Laxmi Bai Mahila Bhawan, Sector 38, Chandigarh.

The event was graced by the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, as the Chief Guest. The event began with a melodious rendition of Vande Mataram by students of GMSSS-16, followed by vibrant cultural performances, including dances, plays, and a mime act by city school students, celebrating India’s journey from struggle to progress.

Around 200 students from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha, currently visiting Chandigarh under the 17th Tribal Youth Exchange Programme, an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports also participated, adding to the spirit of unity and cultural diversity.

The event also featured a live telecast of the address by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi. In his address, the P.M. said, “Vande Mataram is not just a song but a sacred mantra symbolizing the spirit, strength, and unity of Mother India.” He highlighted how the hymn inspired countless freedom fighters and became the soul of India’s independence movement, uniting people across regions and faiths. Calling upon citizens to make the 21st century “India’s century,” he urged everyone to draw inspiration from Vande Mataram to build a self-reliant, powerful, and developed Bharat by 2047.

In his address, the Hon’ble Governor began with the slogan ‘Vande Mataram’, congratulating the Hon’ble Prime Minister for the successful organization of this national celebration. He said that Vande Mataram is not merely a song but the voice and spirit of India, written by Shri Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, who envisioned Bharat as a divine mother symbolizing strength and devotion. He explained that the song, written during the British era, portrays the nation as a sacred mother and her people as devoted children. The first two Sanskrit stanzas, later adopted as the National Song of India, reflect the nation’s spiritual depth.

Tracing its journey from Anandamath to the freedom struggle, the Governor recalled how the slogan became a unifying force after the 1905 partition of Bengal, inspiring countless revolutionaries. Referring to the Maangarh Dham and Jallianwala Bagh massacres, he paid tribute to martyrs like Shaheed Udham Singh and highlighted how the song transcends religion and region, uniting all Indians as one nation bound by patriotism and secular spirit.

Present on the occasion were Mrs. Harpreet Kaur Babla, Mayor, Chandigarh; Sh. Satnam Singh Sandhu, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha); Sh. H. Rajesh Prasad, IAS, Chief Secretary, U.T. Chandigarh; Dr. Sagar Preet Hooda, IPS, Director General of Police, Chandigarh; Sh. Swapnil M. Naik, Secretary, Hospitality; Sh. Nishant Kumar Yadav, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh; and other senior officials of the Chandigarh Administration.