Maharashtra Assembly Marks 150th Anniversary of 'Vande Mataram'

'Vande Mataram', composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, celebrates its 150th anniversary. The Maharashtra legislature acknowledged the occasion by reciting its full version. The celebration aligns with national discussions, as Prime Minister Modi targets youth engagement on the song's significance. A Lok Sabha debate marks the ongoing commemorative events.

Maharashtra's legislative assembly and council marked the start of their winter session on Monday by reciting the complete version of 'Vande Mataram', celebrating the national song's 150th anniversary. The recitation marks a departure from the usual tradition of only reciting the first two stanzas.

Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar and Council Chairperson Ram Shinde emphasized the historic nature of this year's session. Alongside the recitation, the assembly announced new presiding officers to oversee proceedings. Furthermore, the council paid respects to recently deceased prominent figures, following which, the House was adjourned until Tuesday.

Simultaneously, the Lok Sabha engaged in discussions about the anniversary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a series of year-long celebrations earlier in November, focusing on deepening the younger generation's understanding of 'Vande Mataram'. He criticized the Congress for past alterations to the song, highlighting its historical significance as part of the country's partition history.

(With inputs from agencies.)