Journey of a Song- 150 years of Vande Mataram

A poetry. A song. A novel. And their tumultuous journey of 150 years.

Vande Mataram, which was drawn into the vortex of history. Vande Mataram, which moulded history in its own term.

Stories and anecdotes which have stalked the song. Personalities who have drifted into that journey. Facts, myths and misgivings – all of which have painted the canvas and lent to the enigma of a call: Vande Mataram.

Nivedita and Ashis take the audience through this fascinating journey, and sometimes straddle the fault line of fact and fiction.

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Nivedita: a Hindustani Classical vocalist with the World Music album, Autumn Ballet, from Saregama India (erstwhile HMV). A performer and teacher, Nivedita had led a one-hour TV program dedicated to Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, martyr of Mumbai 26/11, where she sang Vande Mataram in the oldest known tune.

Ashis: a software entrepreneur, a raconteur who has anchored major musical shows, a writer in mainstream newspapers and inflight magazines on travel, music and culture, and author of the book – Gandhi and the London Cabby. From Rumi to Bankim Chandra, Ashis has written about in major newspapers.

Nivedita and Ashis had created a vote song, “Chalo Vote de” which was adopted by the Election Commission of India. Their song was later expanded in ten Indian languages by Janagraha.