150 Years of Vande Mataram: BJP’s Patriotic Surge Meets TMC’s Bengali Pride Anthem

Key Highlights

BJP organizes multiple programs and rallies in Bengal for Vande Mataram’s 150th year

Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, symbolizes national unity

TMC promotes Tagore’s Banglar Mati, Banglar Jol as West Bengal’s official state anthem

The anthem reinforces Bengali cultural pride and communal harmony

Both parties use cultural symbols to consolidate political support ahead of state elections

Detailed Report

On November 7, 2025, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal is commemorating 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram, originally composed by Bengali literary icon Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. The celebration features rallies and mass singing across over 1100 locations in the state, seeking to evoke a sense of nationalism and historical pride among Bengalis. Key BJP leaders from Delhi and the state will participate, emphasizing the complete rendition of Vande Mataram as an inspiring symbol of collective resistance and unity against colonial rule.

In parallel, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is actively promoting Rabindranath Tagore’s Banglar Mati, Banglar Jol as West Bengal’s state anthem. The anthem, which speaks to Bengal’s soil and rivers, was declared the official state song earlier this year and represents a message of brotherhood, cultural identity, and linguistic pride. This move aligns with TMC’s ongoing campaign to assert Bengali identity and counter the BJP’s perceived anti-Bengali rhetoric.

These cultural events illustrate how both the BJP and TMC are leveraging historical and literary symbols to mobilize supporters and strengthen their political narratives ahead of the crucial 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.

Sources: Indian Express, Telegraph India, NDTV, Business Standard