A river of students, arms linked, voices unified — Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday, October 12, 2026, celebrated a human chain formed by students in Anand to mark 150 years of the composition of Vande Mataram, calling it 'adbhut aur preranadayi' — extraordinary and inspiring.

Vande Mataram at 150: why Anand's students formed a human chain

The event, titled 'Mathrubhumi Vandana', was organised under the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' — a campaign marking the 25 historic years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public and national service. Students and teachers from Anand came together in a formation that CM Patel described as a living tribute to the national song that has echoed through India's freedom struggle and its aftermath for a century and a half.

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay composed Vande Mataram in 1876, embedding it in his novel Anandamath. The song became a rallying cry during the independence movement and holds the status of India's national song — distinct from, but as revered as, the national anthem. Its 150th anniversary this year has prompted commemorations across the country.

Seva Sankalp Abhiyan: the broader campaign behind the event

The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan frames PM Modi's 25-year political journey — from his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister beginning in 2001 through his current term as Prime Minister — as a continuum of public service. Events under the campaign have been rolled out across BJP-governed states, with school and college students as a primary constituency. The Anand programme fits squarely into that template: patriotic symbolism, youth participation, and a direct link drawn between Modi's service record and national pride.

CM Patel extended his congratulations to all students, teachers, and the Anand district administration for organising what he called a 'grand and patriotism-filled' programme. His post closed with the salutation Vande Mataram and the Indian tricolour emoji — a deliberately spare but resonant sign-off.

What the Anand event signals for Gujarat's youth outreach

Human chains and mass participation events have become a signature mobilisation format for the BJP's outreach to young voters and students. By anchoring a cultural milestone — the 150th year of Vande Mataram — to a political campaign celebrating Modi's service record, the party fuses civic sentiment with electoral messaging. Anand, a district in central Gujarat long associated with cooperative movements and the Amul dairy network, now adds a patriotic landmark to its civic calendar. The question worth watching: how many districts replicate the Anand model before the campaign concludes.