Vande Mataram
Origin and Constitutional Status
Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and first published as part of his Bengali novel Anandamath in 1882. The song became a rallying anthem during the Swadeshi movement and the broader freedom struggle for its imagery of the nation personified as a mother goddess. On 24 January 1950, the Constituent Assembly of India accorded it the status of the National Song, with the first two stanzas officially recognised for that purpose; unlike the National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana), it does not find explicit mention in the Constitution's text, though it is to be honoured on par with the anthem.
- Composed in 1882 in the novel Anandamath, set during the Sannyasi Rebellion.
- Adopted as the National Song by the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950 (only the first two stanzas).
- Article 51A(a) of the Constitution, added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, casts a fundamental duty on every citizen to cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired the national struggle for freedom, a duty frequently linked in civic discourse to symbols like Vande Mataram and the national anthem.
● Tracked since February 14, 2026 · last seen August 29, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
29 Aug '26
The Vande Mataram Movement in Hyderabad State and Its Place in the Freedom Struggle
Modern History
29 Jul '26
Vande Mataram Bill 2026: Extending the National Honour Act to the National Song
Polity & Governance
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