Nadda shares Modi's words as Vande Mataram turns 150 at Red Fort
Synopsis
On Independence Day 2026, PM Modi declared that Vande Mataram resounded at the Red Fort for the first time since Independence, marking 150 years of the national song. Health Minister J. P. Nadda shared the Prime Minister's words, calling it a historic moment for the nation.
Key Takeaways
Union Health Minister J.
Nadda quoted PM Narendra Modi 's Independence Day address at the Red Fort on 15 August 2026 .
Modi stated that Vande Mataram was sung at the Red Fort on 15 August for the first time since Independence.
The occasion marks the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875 .
The Constituent Assembly adopted Vande Mataram as India's national song on 24 January 1950 .
The Red Fort is India's traditional venue for the Prime Minister's annual Independence Day flag-hoisting and address.
For the first time since Independence, the strains of Vande Mataram echoed from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 15 August 2026 — and Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda made sure the country heard exactly what Prime Minister Narendra Modi said about it.
Quoting the Prime Minister directly, Nadda shared Modi's address to the gathering: 'Aazadi ke baad 15 August ko Lal Qile par pehli baar Vande Mataram goonj raha hai' — 'For the first time after Independence, Vande Mataram is resounding at the Red Fort on 15 August.' Modi called it a historic moment for everyone present at the ceremony, and framed the occasion with a pointed question: with the nation simultaneously marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, what better moment could there be?
A song born in 1875, adopted by a nation in 1950
The weight behind that question runs deep. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed Vande Mataram in 1875, and the song became a rallying cry through decades of the freedom movement — sung in protest marches, in prison cells, on the gallows. The Constituent Assembly formally adopted it as India's national song on 24 January 1950, just days after the Constitution came into force. For seventy-six Independence Days since, the Red Fort — a UNESCO-listed monument and the traditional stage for the Prime Minister's flag-hoisting and address — had not, according to Modi's own statement, rung with Vande Mataram on this date. The 150th anniversary changed that.Heritage as ceremony, ceremony as message
The choice is consistent with a pattern visible in official Independence Day events since 2014: an increasing emphasis on pre-Independence cultural symbols and milestones woven into the fabric of public ceremony. Commemorations of historic literary and musical works tied to the freedom movement have become a recurring feature. Marking Vande Mataram's sesquicentennial at the Red Fort, on Independence Day itself, is the fullest expression yet of that approach — culture and statecraft folded into a single moment at India's most resonant national stage. The moment now sets a precedent. Whether Vande Mataram becomes a permanent fixture at future Red Fort ceremonies — or remains a one-time sesquicentennial tribute — is the question Indian cultural and protocol observers will be watching closely.Point of View
But the deliberate framing of it as a 'first' also invites scrutiny of the historical record. The broader arc is clear: national identity, rooted in pre-Independence cultural memory, is now a central pillar of how the government stages its most watched annual event.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Vande Mataram being celebrated in 2026?
2026 marks the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, which was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875 , making it a significant cultural milestone for India.
What did PM Modi say about Vande Mataram at the Red Fort?
PM Modi stated that for the first time since Independence, Vande Mataram was sung at the Red Fort on 15 August , calling it a historic moment for all those present at the ceremony.
When was Vande Mataram adopted as India's national song?
The Constituent Assembly adopted Vande Mataram as India's national song on 24 January 1950 , just days after the Constitution of India came into force.
Who composed Vande Mataram?
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed Vande Mataram in 1875 . The song became a powerful anthem of the Indian independence movement before being formally recognised as the national song.
Why did J. P. Nadda post about Vande Mataram?
Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda shared PM Modi's words from the Independence Day address to highlight the historic significance of Vande Mataram being sung at the Red Fort and to mark its 150th anniversary.
