In a unique event, Congressmen in Ernakulam observed the death 128th anniversary of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee on Friday at the Sabarmathi Research and Study Centre attached to the District Congress Committee.
The Study Centre reverberated with the melodious rendering of Vande Maatharam by school and college students from the city suburbs. MK Saanu, the nonagenarian professor who inaugurated the event reminded all present during the meeting that Vande Maatharam was an eternal song that kindled Indian nationalism and no other lyrics have succeeded in charging up the spirit of freedom among the people. “This is the song which popularised the Indian National Congress and we should recite this as a Vedic mantra to keep the spirit of freedom burning in our hearts,” said Prof Saanu.
Mohammed Shiyas, the young president of the DCC, noted violinist Herald Antony, music director Burnie, literary figure Dr M Thomas Mathew spoke on the occasion about the significance of Vande Maatharam. “This was a new experience to us. We have been taught that the song was a regular event in all meetings convened by Mahatma Gandhi to mobilise people towards freedom struggle. But Prof Saanu took us to a new level of knowledge through his speech and this has made the song still more powerful,” said the students who rendered the song.