Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Wednesday, 12 August 2026 flagged off a special bike rally from Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, alongside Members of Parliament, as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. The event, organised by the Ministry of Culture, marks both Independence Day and the 150th anniversary of the national song 'Vande Mataram'.

Radhakrishnan on Vande Mataram's role in the freedom struggle

Addressing the gathering, VP Radhakrishnan described Vande Mataram as the defining rallying cry of India's independence movement. “These two words ‘Vande Mataram’ ignited the burning patriotism in the minds of every Indian during those days that was the root cause for removing the colonial raj from our mother Bharat,” he said.

He further noted that India's freedom struggle was “an awakening of the Indian mind, spirit and consciousness” that “united people across regions, languages, faiths and social backgrounds through a shared dream of freedom.” He added that no other single expression had captured this awakening as powerfully as Vande Mataram.

Andaman connection and the Tricolour's historic significance

Radhakrishnan also recalled his visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where he hoisted the Tricolour at Flag Point in Sri Vijaya Puram to kick off the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. The site holds deep historical significance — it is where freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the National Flag on 30 December 1943, declaring the Andaman and Nicobar Islands free from British rule.

What MPs said at the rally

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Yogender Chandolia said the rally would carry a message of national unity. “This message will reach Jharkhand that the youth of the country are united under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj described the Tricolour as “a symbol of the resolve of 1.4 billion Indians.” “It represents our aspirations and ambitions. Through today’s bike rally and Tiranga Yatra, we pay tribute to the generation on whose shoulders we stand, the freedom fighters whose supreme sacrifices made it possible for the Tricolour to fly proudly today,” Swaraj said.

About the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign

The Har Ghar Tiranga campaign was originally launched under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative, with the goal of encouraging citizens to hoist the national flag at their homes. The campaign sought to shift the Tricolour from a formal, institutional symbol to a personal expression of national pride.

This year, Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 is being dedicated to the spirit of the 150 years of Vande Mataram, celebrating patriotism, pride in the Tiranga, and the love for the motherland reflected in India's national song. The rally drew a strong display of patriotism, with participants waving the Tricolour and reaffirming their commitment to national unity.

What comes next

With Independence Day approaching on 15 August, the Ministry of Culture is expected to intensify Har Ghar Tiranga outreach across states. Citizens are being urged to hoist the Tricolour at their homes and participate in local Tiranga Yatras as part of the nationwide celebrations.