ITANAGAR, NOV 7:
Arunachal Pradesh on Friday joined the nationwide celebrations commemorating 150 years of India’s national song ‘Vande Mataram’.
Governor Lt General KT Parnaik (retd) participated in the celebration organized at the State Banquet Hall in Itanagar.
“Vande Mataram is the timeless song that stirred the soul of India’s freedom movement. It reminds us of our glorious past and stands today as a living celebration of unity, courage, and the unbreakable bond we share with our motherland”, Parnaik said in his address.
The Governor emphasized that as India moves toward 2047, marking 100 years of Independence, the sacred song urges each citizen to contribute to building a Viksit Bharat. He called upon everyone to renew their commitment to the ideals embodied in the song: love for the motherland, pride in our heritage, and responsibility toward future generations.
Addressing the youth, the Governor urged them to serve with sincerity, lead with compassion, and uphold the unity and harmony that form the essence of India. In today’s world, he said, patriotism is reflected in honesty in our work, empathy in our actions, and integrity in every decision we make.
Rajiv Gandhi University, Vice Chancellor Prof SK Nayak, Chief Secretary (in-charge) Pawan Kumar Sain, and Prof PK Nayak of RGU also shared their reflections on the significance of the Rashtriya Geet.
Speaker of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly TesamPongte, and people from all walks of life, including government officials and students from Goa and Uttarakhand, joined the commemoration programme, making it a truly inclusive celebration of national pride.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who participated in the celebration organized at his hometown Tawang, expressed pride in being part of the historic milestone of the song written by Bankim Chandra Chatterji.
“Vande Mataram is not merely a song, but a sacred hymn that stirred the hearts of countless freedom fighters. It is a timeless call of devotion to our Motherland and a soulful prayer that continues to awaken love for Bharat in every generation”, he said.
Khandu recalled that Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterji in 1875, became the soul-stirring anthem of India’s freedom movement, inspiring patriotism and unity across the nation.
“As we commemorate 150 glorious years, we pay tribute to the timeless words that united a nation and continue to inspire generations to love and serve Maa Bharati,” Khandu wrote in a social media post after the event.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein participated in the Unity March (Ekta Yatra) at Namsai organized by the Namsaidistrict administration to mark the occasion.
“The march reminded us of the importance of unity and collective effort in building a strong and self-reliant nation,” Mein said, appreciating the enthusiastic participation of people from all walks of life.
He added that such events reinforce the spirit of Ek Bharat, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, celebrating India’s unity in diversity.
Papum Pare district also joined the nation in celebrating the day with programs held across 137 centres, including the DC Office, Yupia; ADC offices at Sagalee, Balijan, and Kimin; SDO Office, Doimukh; CO Office, Kakoi; Government College, Doimukh; Midpu, and 130 schools of the district.
Officials, students, and citizens across all centres joined together in singing Vande Mataram, their voices resonating with patriotic fervour and unity.
The Day was also observed across the institutions and administration centres in Upper Subansiridistrict.
Speaking at the programme organized at the district headquarters, Daporijo MLA Taniya Soki called upon the people to learn the lyrics of “VandeMataram” like those of national anthem “Jana Gana Mana”. He said these two songs are equally important in shapingnational integrity and instill patriotism, unity, equality, peace and social harmony.
Upper Subansiri deputy commissioner Tasso Gabo stressed on observing the commemoration of the ‘Vande Mataram’ in schools and colleges, stating this will promote unity and patriotism among people particularly the younger generations.
Programmes were also organized in other administrative circles of the district to commemorate the historic milestone of the song. The event was organised in collaboration with the Department of Art & Culture and the Department of Information & Public Relations (IPR) at the DC office premises, Yingkiong.
Administrative outposts such as Tuting, Geku, and Jengging, along with various schools across the district, also enthusiastically participated in the mass singing of “Vande Mataram”, showcasing a spirit of patriotism, unity, and pride.
It was first published on 7th November 1875 and later adopted as the National Song of India by the Constituent Assembly in 1950. The song was first sung by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Congress Session in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
Programmes were also organized across all districts to celebrate the historic milestone of the national song.
