The Ministry of Railways on Friday marked the 150th anniversary of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ with programmes held across its nationwide zones and divisions, including a central event at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi attended by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and senior Railway Board officials.
At the Rail Bhawan event, officials participated in a mass singing of ‘Vande Mataram’, synchronised with the Ministry of Culture’s main commemorative event streamed live. Following the rendition, participants listened to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address marking the occasion.
Speaking at the main event, Vaishnaw described Vande Mataram as “the proclamation of India’s consciousness for the past 150 years” and noted its enduring significance in the country’s national identity.
Similar programmes were organised across railway zones. At Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai, a special event was held in the presence of Central Railway General Manager Vijay Kumar. South Central Railway officials, led by General Manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, also joined the nationwide observance with a collective singing of the national song at Rail Nilayam in Secunderabad. Northern Railway officers and staff participated in a commemorative gathering at the office of the Chief Public Relations Officer.
The year 2025 marks 150 years since Bankimchandra Chatterjee composed Vande Mataram, which played a pivotal role in inspiring India’s freedom movement. The Railways’ observances highlighted the song’s lasting legacy and its place in the country’s cultural and patriotic consciousness.