During his Sunday address on October 26, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that India’s revered national song, ‘Vande Mataram,’ beautifully portrays the nation’s vibrant and grand spirit. He called upon all citizens to actively participate in making the song’s 150th anniversary a truly memorable occasion by upholding its core values for generations to come.
Speaking on his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio program, the Prime Minister announced that numerous nationwide events will be held to mark the 150th year of ‘Vande Mataram.’ This iconic song was originally composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and was first sung by Rabindranath Tagore in 1896, leaving an indelible mark on India’s cultural heritage.
During his half-hour broadcast, Mr. Modi highlighted various innovative initiatives led by citizens nationwide. These included dedicated efforts to restore mangrove ecosystems in Gujarat, the establishment of “Garbage Cafes” in Chhattisgarh promoting waste collection, and commendable projects aimed at revitalizing lakes in Bengaluru.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi commended the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for their initiative to incorporate more Indian dog breeds into their respective units. He proudly mentioned a Mudhol Hound that distinguished itself in a competition, outperforming several foreign breeds.
“Our own indigenous dog breeds have demonstrated extraordinary bravery,” Mr. Modi noted. He recounted an incident from the previous year in a Maoist-affected region of Chhattisgarh, where a CRPF dog, an indigenous breed, successfully detected a hidden cache of eight kilograms of explosives.
He further elaborated that the BSF and CRPF have welcomed native Indian breeds like Rampur Hounds, Mudhol Hounds, Mongrels, Kombai, and Pandikona into their specialized dog squads. Some of these remarkable dogs are set to participate in a special parade at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on October 31st, celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The Prime Minister also praised the flourishing coffee cultivation in Koraput, Odisha, highlighting how this endeavor is significantly improving the lives of local residents.
“In Koraput, individuals driven by pure passion are successfully cultivating coffee. This includes many women whose lives have been wonderfully changed for the better thanks to the opportunities coffee farming provides,” the Prime Minister stated.
He noted the increasing global popularity of Indian coffee, acknowledging the diverse and distinct flavors from regions such as Chikmagalur, Coorg, and Hassan in Karnataka; Pulney, Shevaroy, Nilgiri, and Annamalai in Tamil Nadu; the Biligiri region along the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border; and Wayanad, Travancore, and Malabar in Kerala. This rich variety, he affirmed, makes Indian coffee truly outstanding.
The Prime Minister observed that both cultural revival efforts and the widespread use of social media have breathed new life into the Sanskrit language. He pointed out that many young people are now actively using and discussing Sanskrit through engaging short video reels.
“Numerous individuals are even using their social media platforms to teach Sanskrit,” Mr. Modi highlighted. He specifically mentioned a young content creator named Bhai Yash Salunke, who stands out as both a content creator and a cricketer. Salunke’s viral video, featuring him playing cricket while conversing in Sanskrit, has garnered significant popularity.