India, Dec. 9 -- The family of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the iconic writer who composed Vande Mataram, has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for commemorating 150 years of the national song, even as they criticised the West Bengal government for what they described as long-standing indifference to the literary giant.

Speaking to various media platforms on Monday, Bankim Chandra's great-grandson, Sajal Chattopadhyay, said the Prime Minister's remarks in Parliament were a "deeply respectful" acknowledgment of the author's legacy.

The classic was written in November 1875 and quickly evolved into a rallying anthem for India's freedom movement.

He added that the Central government's gesture was "commendable", contrasting it with the ...