150 Years of ‘Vande Mataram’: Celebrate India’s Iconic National Song with a Quiz
As India celebrates 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’, take this quiz to test your knowledge about the national song’s history, origin, and impact on India’s freedom movement.
Students and citizens across India celebrate 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’, paying tribute to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s timeless national song that continues to inspire patriotism and unity.
India today commemorates 150 years of the timeless patriotic anthem ‘Vande Mataram’, a song that has stirred generations with its spirit of devotion to the motherland. Translating to “Mother, I Bow to Thee,” the song was penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1870 and later immortalized in his revolutionary novel Anandamath (1882). It was officially adopted as India’s National Song by the Constituent Assembly in 1950, becoming an enduring symbol of national pride.
To celebrate this milestone, here’s a short 10-question quiz to test your knowledge about the song that once served as a rallying cry for freedom.
‘Vande Mataram’ Quiz – Test Your Knowledge!
Who wrote the national song of India, “Vande Mataram”?
➤ Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
In which novel did “Vande Mataram” first appear?
➤ Anandamath
When was “Vande Mataram” first sung publicly?
➤ At the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress
Which part of “Vande Mataram” was adopted as the National Song of India?
➤ The first two stanzas
Who composed the musical rendition of “Vande Mataram”?
➤ Rabindranath Tagore
In which language was “Vande Mataram” originally written?
➤ Sanskrit
What does the phrase “Vande Mataram” mean in English?
➤ “I bow to thee, Mother” or “Salutations to the Motherland”
In which year was “Vande Mataram” composed?
➤ 1870 (published in 1882 in Anandamath)
Who translated “Vande Mataram” into English for the first time?
➤ Sri Aurobindo
Which freedom movement popularized “Vande Mataram” as a patriotic slogan?
➤ The Swadeshi Movement (1905)
🇮🇳 Ways to Celebrate the 150th Anniversary
Mark this historic day by engaging in fun and educational activities — host a “Complete the Lyrics” challenge, learn to play Vande Mataram on a harmonium or guitar, or create a visual timeline tracing the song’s journey from 1870 to today. Schools and communities can also organize art contests or storytelling sessions highlighting how Vande Mataram inspired India’s freedom struggle.
