‘Vande Mataram’ Made Mandatory in Morning Assemblies Across Bengal Schools

Bengal Makes ‘Vande Mataram’ Mandatory in Schools, Rekindling the Spirit of National Awakening.

Upananda Brahmachari | HENB | Kolkata | May 14, 2026:: Bengal has made the singing of Vande Mataram compulsory in morning assemblies across all government schools in the state — a move being hailed as a historic tribute to Bengal’s civilizational legacy and its towering contribution to India’s freedom struggle.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that students in every government-run school under the Department of School Education will now sing the complete six-stanza rendition of Vande Mataram before the commencement of classes.

The directive takes immediate effect and marks a defining moment for Bengal — the sacred land of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, whose immortal composition awakened the spirit of nationalism and inspired generations of freedom fighters during India’s battle against colonial rule.

“The West Bengal government has made it mandatory with immediate effect for all schools under the Department of School Education to sing the Indian national song Vande Mataram during the school assembly or morning prayer before the commencement of classes,” Chief Minister Adhikari said in a public statement.

A Song That Became the Soul of India’s Freedom Movement

Few compositions in Indian history carry the emotional and revolutionary force of Vande Mataram. Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and first published in his iconic 1882 novel Anandamath, the song soon transcended literature to become the spiritual anthem of India’s independence movement.

From the streets of Bengal to the prisons of British India, the cry of Vande Mataram echoed through protests, marches, and revolutionary gatherings. Countless freedom fighters walked to the gallows with the chant on their lips, transforming the song into a timeless symbol of sacrifice, courage, and devotion to the motherland.

Composed in Sanskrit, the hymn glorifies Bharat Mata and celebrates the beauty, strength, and divine spirit of the nation. The first two stanzas were officially adopted as India’s national song in 1950, while the complete six-stanza version continues to hold profound historical and cultural significance.

Earlier this year, the central government elevated the stature of Vande Mataram by according it recognition equal to the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. The move reaffirmed the song’s unparalleled place in the nation’s collective consciousness.

Bengal Reclaims Its Nationalist Legacy

Political observers view the decision as more than an administrative order. In many ways, it is being seen as Bengal reclaiming its historic role as the cradle of India’s nationalist awakening.

For decades, Bengal produced some of the greatest minds and revolutionaries of modern India — from Bankim Chandra and Swami Vivekananda to Sri Aurobindo, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Khudiram Bose. The revival of Vande Mataram in schools is being projected as an effort to reconnect younger generations with that legacy of patriotism and civilizational pride.

The BJP government has repeatedly emphasized that Bengal’s cultural heritage must remain rooted in national consciousness and respect for the ideals that shaped India’s freedom movement.

The Centre had earlier organised grand commemorative events to mark the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, including special discussions in Parliament celebrating Bankim Chandra’s contribution to nation-building.

A New Beginning in Bengal’s Classrooms

With the implementation of the order, thousands of schools across West Bengal are expected to begin each day with the stirring verses that once ignited India’s freedom struggle.

Supporters of the move describe it as a powerful cultural revival aimed at instilling patriotism, discipline, and pride in India’s civilizational heritage among students.

In the land where Vande Mataram was born, the song is now set to resonate once again through classrooms and school grounds — not merely as a ritual, but as a reminder of the spirit that helped shape the destiny of a nation.
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