Veteran singer Hariharan has opened up about the profound emotional journey that began when he first heard 'Vande Mataram' as a 17-year-old cadet in the National Cadet Corps (NCC) — an experience he says shaped his decades-long connection with the patriotic composition. Speaking in a video shared on his social media account, the singer described how the song's energy moved him even before he could understand its words.

A Young Cadet's First Encounter

Hariharan recalled that the first time he left home was for an NCC camp at Karjat, which at the time felt like a journey to a distant world. It was there that he was first taught 'Vande Mataram' — a song composed in Sanskrit and Bengali, languages he did not then understand.

'I was about 17 years old and I was an NCC cadet, a lance corporal. The first time I left home, we had gone for an NCC camp at Karjat. It felt like we had crossed the seven seas and gone somewhere far away,' he said.

He added, 'It was a lot of fun. And there, they taught me 'Vande Mataram' in their own language. I couldn't understand the words at that time because it was in Sanskrit and Bengali. But there was one thing — although I didn't understand the words, the depth and the energy touched me.'

From Listener to Composer: A Full-Circle Moment

What makes Hariharan's story particularly resonant is the arc it describes — from a boy who felt the song's power without comprehension, to a musician entrusted with composing its definitive multi-language version. He described the moment of composition as a return to that original feeling.

'After so many years, when I got the opportunity to compose it, it was a different journey altogether. And it was so appealing. When I composed it, felt like that same 17-year-old boy again. This experience that I have had with 'Vande Mataram', and what I have composed in all the languages, is God's gift to me. 'Vande Mataram',' he said.

Notably, the composition spans multiple Indian languages, reflecting the song's status as a unifying national symbol that transcends regional boundaries.

Four Generations Present 'The Anthem' to President Murmu

The story took a ceremonial turn on 26 October 2026, when Hariharan, accompanied by four generations of his family, met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, and presented her with the first copy of the premium vinyl edition of 'The Anthem: Vande Mataram'.

Present at the occasion were his mother Alamelu Mani, wife Lalitha Hariharan, son Akshay Hariharan, Amritha, and the family's youngest members Aria Akshay and Ahan Akshay, who have also lent their voices to the album. One of the most memorable moments of the meeting was when President Murmu listened to the vinyl record being played on a turntable.

A Tribute Marking 150 Years of Vande Mataram

The presentation was timed to honour the song's 150-year legacy, bringing together music, history and family heritage in a single gesture. Sharing pictures from the occasion, Hariharan wrote: 'It was a profound honor and privilege for me and my entire family, across four generations, to meet the Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu ji, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.'

He added, 'We had the immense blessing of presenting her with the special vinyl edition of The Anthem - Vande Mataram, alongside a bespoke turntable. Music is our humble offering to the nation, and receiving Her Excellency's blessings in the presence of my loved ones makes this journey truly complete. Vande Mataram.'

As 'Vande Mataram' marks a century and a half of its existence, Hariharan's multi-generational tribute positions the song not just as a historical artefact but as a living, evolving musical legacy.