“Vande Mataram” at 150: A Landmark Step Toward Inclusive National Heritage
Special Braille and large-print edition compiled and edited by Ashif Shah, with the concept by Debajyoti Roy, is an initiative of NIP.
Marking 150 years of Vande Mataram (1875–2025), a unique and meaningful initiative has brought India’s national song closer to the visually impaired community through a special Braille and large-print edition.
The book, compiled and edited by Ashif Shah, with the concept by Debajyoti Roy, is an initiative of NIP. This remarkable effort aims to make an essential part of India’s cultural identity accessible to all.
The Braille edition was formally released by Victor Banerjee, a Padma Bhushan awardee, along with noted actor Madhabi Mukherjee, at a special समारोह supported by the Rotary Club of Ballygunge and Rotary Club of Calcutta East Central, Mamta Binani Foundation in the presence of eminent Guest from various field.
More than just a transcription, this Braille edition represents a powerful commitment to inclusivity, dignity, and equal access. National symbols like “Vande Mataram” are integral to a country’s identity, and ensuring accessibility means allowing every citizen to connect with that heritage without barriers.
The publication includes the original version of the song in Bengali, along with Hindi, English transliteration, and translation, as well as its history and cultural significance. For visually impaired students, such resources are not merely educational tools—they are pathways to empowerment and equal participation in the cultural narrative of the nation.
This initiative reinforces a vital principle: accessibility is not charity, but a fundamental human right. By making “Vande Mataram” available in Braille, it ensures that every individual, regardless of physical ability, can experience and embrace their national identity fully.
Reported and Edited by News Mania Desk -14th March 2026-Rotary Sadan.
