Vande Mataram kickstarts Red Fort Independence Day celebrations in a historic first

India marked its 80th Independence Day with a significant and historic first: the national song 'Vande Mataram' resonated from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi. This marked the first time the song has been officially played during the Independence Day celebrations at the historic site.

The rendition of 'Vande Mataram' was performed by an Army band, with attendees, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries like Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, joining in. The ceremony also included the hoisting of the national flag and the singing of the national anthem.

This historic moment follows recent legislative action, as Parliament passed the 'Vande Mataram' Bill, which President Droupadi Murmu subsequently assented to. This law grants the national song the same legal protection as the national anthem, prohibiting intentional insults or disturbances during its singing.

Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the significance of the occasion in his address, stating, "For everyone present at this ceremony today, this is also a historic moment. For the first time since Independence, Vande Mataram is echoing from the Red Fort on August 15." The song, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875, played a crucial role as a rallying cry during India's freedom struggle against British rule and was adopted as the national song by the Constituent Assembly in 1950.

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For everyone present at this ceremony today, this is also a historic moment. For the first time since Independence, Vande Mataram is echoing from the Red Fort on August 15.