In a historic first, Vande Mataram, the national song of India, was played at the Red Fort on Saturday morning as India celebrated its 80th Independence Day. Vande Mataram was followed by the recitation of the national anthem at the grand event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the tricolour. Track live updates on Independence Day celebrations
This comes after the Parliament passed the Vande Mataram Bill during the recently concluded monsoon session. This was followed by President Droupadi Murmu giving assent to the Bill, granting the National Song the same legal protection as the national anthem. An Army band played the tune of ‘Vande Mataram’ while the guests present at Red Fort sung the national song. The guests included Union home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, among others. Vande Mataram recitation was followed by the prime minister hoisting the national flag. The national anthem was sung later. This was followed by the Prime Minister hoisting the national flag, and then the national anthem was recited.
For the first time since Independence, Vande Mataram is echoing from the Red Fort on August 15. Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875, Vande Mataram became a rallying cry during India’s struggle for freedom from the British colonial rule. ‘Vande Mataram’ as a political slogan was first used on August 7, 1905, according to a note ‘150 Years of Vande Mataram: A Melody That Became a Movement’, shared by the government on November 6 last year. Reiterating the government’s resolve, PM Modi on Friday said India will become ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. Earlier reporting noted: The government last November launched a year-long celebration to mark 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’.
Earlier reporting noted: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort amid patriotic fervour and multi-layer security. Earlier reporting noted: An Army band played the tune of ‘Vande Mataram’ as the guests present on the occasion sung the national song. The Vande Mataram Bill received the President’s assent on Tuesday, making it a law and bringing the national song under the ambit of Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act which earlier prohibited intentionally preventing the singing of the national anthem (Jana Gana Mana) or causing disturbance to any assembly engaged in such singing. In his speech, Modi on Saturday also highlighted the significance of Vande Mataram being rendered at the Red Fort and said, “For everyone present at this ceremony today, this is also a historic moment.
