Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor Prof Mazhar Asif and Registrar, JMI, Prof Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi today joined the nation in celebrating the grand 150th anniversary of India’s National Song, ‘Vande Mataram’, by organising mass singing of the song followed by a live telecast of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s address, at its FTK CIT Auditorium, to a large gathering of Deans of Faculties, Directors of Centres, Heads of Departments, faculty members and staff of the university.
Watching the PM inaugurate the year-long commemoration of the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi where he also released a Commemorative Stamp and Coin, the mood in the CIT auditorium of JMI was filled with patriotism and brimming with love for the motherland.
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In his opening address, Registrar, Prof. Mahtab Alam Rizvi drawing on the history of the national song and its important role in the freedom struggle elaborated on how ‘Vande Mataram’ became a war cry of national resistance during the 1905 Bengal Partition.
Speaking about its role in the cultural and emotional integration of the nation, Prof Rizvi said the song “transcended language, region, and caste barriers and served as a cultural bridge among Indians from diverse backgrounds”. He recalled how the song’s “Sanskritic vocabulary and universal spiritual tone resonated with diverse communities, creating an emotional unity before political unity emerged”.
Prof Rizvi said the line ‘Mother, I bow to thee’ reflected “ideals of service, selflessness, and reverence for the nation” and resonated with the Gandhian ethic of non-violence and sacrifice, inspiring freedom fighters to endure suffering with faith.
Reflecting on the relevance of Vande Mataram to Jamia Millia Islamia’s legacy and ethos, Prof Rizvi said: “Jamia, founded in 1920, was itself a product of India’s composite nationalism, the very values that the song stands for. While the founders of Jamia like Maulana Mohammad Ali, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and Dr. Zakir Husain emphasized inclusive education and cultural harmony, the moral emotion behind Vande Mataram, that of devotion, selfless service, and love for the motherland has always perfectly aligned with JMI’s mission.”
Prof Rizvi said: “The university continues to uphold the spirit of unity in diversity, service to the nation, and educational empowerment, which are the living embodiments of the ideals celebrated in Vande Mataram”. He concluded by stating: “In essence, Vande Mataram, transformed love for the nation into a sacred duty. From the struggle against colonialism to the challenges of a modern democracy, its call “Mother, I bow to thee” continues to bind India together in emotion, culture, and consciousness”.
VC-JMI, Prof Asif, in his presidential remarks said: “Every living creation, be it human beings, animal, or plants, holds a deep love for their motherland. Our geographical space of dwelling evokes profound emotional attachment; the love of one’s nation is both natural and powerful. Similarly, the national song, ‘Vande Mataram’ evokes this strong emotion of attachment and love for the motherland, our nation, India.”
Prof Asif said: “Vande Mataram became a unifying call, a slogan filled with emotion that brought people together under one banner to resist the colonial rule. It was a supreme call to devote one’s life for the cause of the nation at a time when the country was under colonial rule.”
Prof Asif said: “On behalf of the entire Jamia Millia Islamia community, I bow in reverence to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Rabindranath Tagore, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and scores of freedom fighters and nation builders for their devotion to the nation.”
Delving into the history of nationalism, India’s fight for independence and the role of the national song in it, Prof Asif said: “Today, on this landmark occasion of the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’, we reaffirm our pledge to dedicate ourselves to the service of our country with unwavering commitment, passion and pride.”
The Dean of Students’ Welfare, Prof Neelofer Afzal thanked the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar, JMI for their efforts in making the event a grand success and especially conveyed her appreciation of the faculty members and the administrative staff of JMI for their enthusiastic participation.
