Amit Shah launches ‘Vande Mataram 150’ campaign in Patna

Patna, Nov 7: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Friday led celebrations in Patna marking 150 years of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’, calling it a “day of awakening Indian consciousness.”

Addressing the event, Amit Shah recalled that it was on this day in 1875 that Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay penned Vande Mataram, which later became the guiding spirit of India’s freedom struggle and a symbol of national unity.

The Home Minister said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India had made significant strides toward fulfilling the vision of its freedom fighters. He also launched a nationwide ‘#VandeMataram150’ campaign, to be run across all regional languages in physical and digital formats, encouraging citizens to align their lives with the song’s message of unity and self-reliance. Amit Shah said the year-long campaign would reawaken national consciousness through collective recitations and cultural initiatives. He also urged people to take a Swadeshi pledge, linking the anniversary to the call for a self-reliant India. Recalling the song’s legacy, he said Vande Mataram became the proclamation of the freedom movement, inspired generations of revolutionaries, and continues to embody India’s cultural nationalism. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and several dignitaries were present at the event.