Kangra, Nov. 7 -- Kangra-Chamba MP Dr. Rajiv Bhardwaj on Friday said that "Vande Mataram is not merely a word but a mantra that evokes the heartbeat of the nation."He was presiding over a constituency-level programme organized by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kangra to mark the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram.
Dr. Bhardwaj said Vande Mataram is a reflection of India's rich cultural heritage, particularly of Bengal, and symbolized the spirit of freedom during the country's struggle for independence. "The slogan of the 1787 Sanyasi Conference against the British was Vande Mataram. Until 1937, all Congress sessions began with this slogan, but later it was discontinued due to appeasement politics," he remarked.
He added that "Mahatma...