Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, delivered a stirring address at an event marking 150 years of India’s national song, Vande Mataram, drawing deep connections between the song’s sentiment, India’s civilisational identity, and the country’s contemporary security and societal ethos. The programme, held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, was attended by a wide array of dignitaries, including Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The event also featured the release of a commemorative stamp and coin, the launch of a dedicated digital portal, and a mass rendition of the full version of Vande Mataram across the nation.

In his address, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the dual role that India plays on the global stage—both as a protector of humanity and, when necessary, as a force that decisively counters threats. Referring to the Pahalgam terrorist attack in April and the subsequent counter-terrorist Operation Sindoor, he stated, “Bharat Mata is Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Durga. When the enemy tried to attack India’s security and honour through terrorism, the whole world saw that the new India, in service of humanity, also knows how to become Durga for the destruction of terror.” In this context, he described India as a nation that embodies both compassion and strength, nurturing life while confronting forces that threaten it.

Prime Minister Modi linked this philosophy directly to the central theme of Vande Mataram, asserting that the song reflects India’s conception of the nation as a mother. “Our Vedas have taught us that the nation is our mother and we are her children. We have worshipped our nation in this form since the Vedic period. The emotion that a nation can be a mother can be surprising for those who view nations as a geopolitical entity. But India is different. Here, a nation is also the one that gives birth and the one that nurtures. She is also a destroyer if a child is in danger. Because of this emotion of considering the nation as mother and a form of Shakti, mahila shakti was at the forefront in building the nation,” he said. In these remarks, the Prime Minister underscored the philosophical and cultural roots of India’s conception of the motherland, framing the nation’s protective and assertive capacities as deeply embedded in its civilisational ethos.

Tracing the historical origins of the national song, Modi recalled the circumstances under which Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay composed Vande Mataram in the late 19th century. He observed that when Bankim Chandra wrote the song, India was under colonial rule, mired in poverty, exploitation, and systemic subjugation. “When Bankim Babu composed Vande Mataram, India was far removed from its golden era. Foreign invaders, their attacks, and the exploitative policies of the British had left our country in the clutches of poverty and starvation. Even in those dire circumstances, Bankim Babu called for a prosperous India. Because he believed that no matter the difficulties, India could revive its golden era, and that is why he called for Vande Mataram,” the Prime Minister said.

Modi highlighted how the song’s first line—Sujalam, Suphalam—directly countered colonial propaganda portraying India as inferior and backward. By celebrating the richness, fertility, and potential of the Indian land and its people, the song became a clarion call for independence and national resurgence. “Vande Mataram not only became the song of independence, but also presented that prosperous, fruitful dream of what an independent India would be like. Vande Mataram also presented that dream to crores of countrymen,” Modi noted, emphasizing the inspirational and mobilizing power of the song during India’s freedom struggle.

Drawing upon reflections from Rabindranath Tagore, Modi contextualized the enduring relevance of Vande Matarambeyond its historical moment. “Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore once said that Bankim Chandra’s Anandamath is not just a novel, but also a dream of an independent India. Every word written by Bankim Babu had deep meaning. This song was created during the time of slavery, but it is not limited to that time. The Vande Mataram song is relevant in every era,” the Prime Minister remarked. By connecting the song to a broader philosophical and civilizational framework, Modi highlighted its enduring role in shaping Indian identity and national consciousness.

He further elaborated that the creation of Vande Mataram stemmed from a profound emotional and philosophical understanding of India’s identity. “The concept of India is the ideological force behind it. The sense of one’s independent existence—only from the depths of the heart and the infinity of emotions does a composition like Vande Mataram emerge. In that period of slavery, Vande Mataram became the proclamation of this resolve. And that proclamation was of India’s independence. The chains of slavery would be broken by the hands of Mother India. And her children would become the makers of their own destiny,” he said.

The Prime Minister highlighted that the essence of the song lies not just in patriotic sentiment but also in the historical resilience and transformative spirit of India. “The main emotion of Vande Mataram is Bharat, Maa Bharati. India as a nation emerged as a gem that endured every blow of the past and through cooperation also achieved immortality,” he said. This framing positions the song not only as a symbolic expression of freedom but also as a reminder of the nation’s ongoing duty to nurture, protect, and, when required, defend its citizens and values.

The year-long commemoration of Vande Mataram, inaugurated by Modi, will continue until November 7, 2026, encompassing a wide array of cultural and educational initiatives. These include exhibitions, seminars, and school programmes highlighting the song’s historical significance and its continuing influence on India’s civilisational ethos. The government has also launched a dedicated digital portal to facilitate nationwide participation and to promote awareness about the song’s legacy. The initiative seeks to reinforce Vande Mataram not only as a symbol of the freedom struggle but also as a cultural and ideological touchstone that continues to inspire successive generations.

Prime Minister Modi described Vande Mataram as more than a song: “It is a mantra, energy, dream, and resolve,” he said, noting that it continues to galvanize citizens across the country. By connecting the emotional resonance of the song with India’s philosophical and civilizational identity, he underscored how national symbols can serve as both cultural expressions and instruments for reinforcing shared values and collective resilience.

The Prime Minister’s address also reflected on the transformative role of women in India’s historical and contemporary narratives. By linking the notion of Bharat Mata to Shakti and women’s empowerment, Modi highlighted the contribution of female agency in nation-building and national defence, thereby drawing a line of continuity from cultural symbolism to practical leadership in shaping the country’s trajectory.

Overall, the event emphasized how Vande Mataram, while deeply rooted in India’s historical struggle against colonial rule, continues to resonate in contemporary India. By weaving together historical context, civilisational philosophy, and contemporary national security imperatives, Prime Minister Modi presented a vision of India as a nation that embodies both nurturing and protective dimensions—a country that is capable of serving humanity while also decisively confronting forces that threaten its people and ideals.