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The centenary of Vande Mataram was celebrated in Red Fort, Delhi today. As part of celebrations, an Exhibition of rare portraits of martyrs was opened in the Red Fort. Tributes were paid to Madame Bhikaiji Cama, who unfurled the flag of Indian freedom with ‘Vande Mataram’ inscribed on it at the International Socialist Congress at Stuttgart in Germany in 1907. Speaking at the Meeting held in the evening, the Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Culture Sh. S. Jaipal Reddy said that ‘Vande Mataram’ as a war cry has been the most inspiring one in the history of the world. ‘Vande Mataram’ reflects and promotes the idea of India. He said that this great song needs to be renewed from time to time and Doordarshan and All India Radio would do their duty in its renewal in the present context. The Minister said that centenary celebrations will be carried throughout the year, at the national scale with Prime Minister as chairman of the Celebrations Committee.
In his remarks, The Union Minister for Human Resources development, Sh. Arjun Singh highlighted the spirit of ‘Vande Mataram’ and how it infused the youth. In the present day also, the youth need to inculcate the values and ideals of the freedom struggle to realize true freedom for the people of India, he added.
A large number of freedom fighters took part in the celebrations.
The Central Ministries of Culture, Tourism and HRD and the Department of Culture of Delhi Government coordinated the programme with the National Committee of Centenary Celebrations of Vande Mataram.
RS/AS
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