Vice-President Inaugurates Vande Mataram Exhibition with Rare Images, Marks Two 150th Anniversaries
Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Friday virtually inaugurated a permanent exhibition on Vande Mataram at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) in Shimla. The exhibition features 20 rare images depicting the historical journey of the national song, coinciding with two significant milestones: the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram and the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The Vice-President was addressing a three-day international seminar on Sardar Patel's vision of integration, unification, and federalism organised by the IIAS. During the event, he also launched a coffee-table book titled 'Vande Mataram: A Journey', prepared by the institute. The book offers a detailed account of the composition of Vande Mataram, its significance, role in the freedom struggle, and the controversies surrounding it, including objections at the 1923 Kakinada Congress session and the omission of four stanzas in 1937.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Radhakrishnan said, 'While innovations can make a nation prosperous, it is ideas that make a nation truly great.' He recalled how Vande Mataram inspired countless freedom fighters, providing courage and hope. He cited examples from Tamil Nadu, highlighting freedom fighters such as V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, Tiruppur Kumaran, Vanchinathan, and Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, who drew inspiration from the song.
The Vice-President emphasised that patriotism should not be limited to moments of struggle but should be expressed daily through honesty, excellence in work, and unity of purpose. The exhibition and book aim to preserve the legacy of the national song and its role in India's history.
