Haryana Celebrates 150 Years of ‘Vande Mataram’; Chief Secretary Rastogi Calls It the Soul of National Character

Chandigarh, November 7 — The 150th anniversary of India’s national song ‘Vande Mataram’ was celebrated across Haryana with dignity and pride on Thursday. A state-level ceremony was held at the Haryana Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh, where Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi attended as the chief guest.

Addressing the gathering, Rastogi said that the pain of living under foreign rule in one’s own country is unimaginable. He recalled that the first war of independence in 1857 sparked the spirit of resistance among citizens, who began to raise their voices against British oppression.

He noted that India has a long-standing tradition of expressing emotions through music and song. Among such creations, Vande Mataram stands as an immortal anthem that awakened patriotic fervor among Indians suffering under colonial rule. The song, he said, gave voice to national consciousness and guided India’s freedom struggle.

Rastogi added that the entire nation was proudly celebrating the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, calling it not merely a song but a sacred hymn in praise of the motherland and the essence of India’s national spirit. He urged citizens to remember the country’s glorious past and continue walking on the path shown by great leaders and freedom fighters.

The Chief Secretary also inaugurated an exhibition dedicated to the life and works of Vande Mataram’s creator, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. The exhibition showcased key moments from his life and literary contributions. Rastogi encouraged all attendees to visit the exhibition and draw inspiration from it. He also recited the national song in Hindi during the event.

The ceremony began with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp and floral tributes to Bharat Mata by senior officials. School students captivated the audience with a moving rendition of Vande Mataram, followed by a collective singing of the national song by all attendees. The program concluded with the national anthem and Haryana’s state song ‘Jai Jai Jai Haryana.’

Earlier, Director General of Information, Public Relations and Languages Department K. Makarand Pandurang welcomed the Chief Guest and later presented him with a framed depiction of Vande Mataram.

The event was attended by Additional Chief Secretaries Dr. Sumita Mishra (Home), Sudhir Rajpal (Health), Vijayendra Kumar (Cooperation), and Apurva Kumar Singh (Urban Development), Principal Secretary to CM Arun Gupta, DGP O.P. Singh, Principal Secretary (Power) Shyaml Mishra, Commissioner and Secretary (Housing for All) Mohammed Shayin, Commissioner and Secretary (Information & Culture) Dr. Amit Kumar Agrawal, Finance Secretary Rajnikanthan, HR Secretary P.C. Meena, Principal Secretary (Sports) Navdeep Singh Virk, Principal Secretary (Tourism) Kala Ramachandran, and other senior officials, CISF officers, and Haryana Civil Secretariat employees.