Vande Mataram echoes at Shivaji College as VC invokes freedom legacy
Delhi University’s Shivaji College hosted an event to celebrate the National Song, Vande Mataram, evoking Indian nationalism and cultural heritage. DU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Yogesh Singh, was the chief guest, who led the gathering in a mass singing rendition and administered the Swadeshi Sankalp Shapath.
The programme commenced with a solemn Pushpanjali (floral tribute) at the Shivaji Statue, followed by a Guard of Honour. A significant highlight of the morning was the unveiling of the Vande Mataram Shilapapath (stone plaque). This permanent installation serves as a “mnemonic of history,” recalling the freedom struggle and the collective sacrifices of the past.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor BW Pandey, Chairman, Governing Body and Professor Virender Bhardwaj, Principal Shivaji College, lit the ceremonial lamp and paid floral tributes to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, the literary icon who penned Vande Mataram during a period of colonial domination.
In his keynote address, the Vice-Chancellor noted that while the National Anthem emphasises constitutional-political unity, the National Song highlights India’s cultural and civilizational identity. He remarked that the song articulates shared emotions of pride and belonging, helping to unify diverse linguistic and cultural groups through common symbolism.
The VC retraced the history of the 150 years of the Vande Mataram song by quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vishwanath Mukherjee, and Shyamji Krishna Varma. He informed that Vande Mataram is a reiteration of the responsibility of Indians towards the motherland.
He talked about films like Jagriti and Anandamath to inform students to promote patriotism and nationalist feelings. The Vice-Chancellor urged the students to bridge the gap between “nationalism as sentiment” and “nationalism in lived reality”. He emphasised that honouring the nation goes beyond symbolic reverence; it requires dedication to justice, equality, and civic duties.
