Lucknow: A unique artistic tribute to the national song Vande Mataram was showcased at the Lucknow Book Fair, where a special painting workshop celebrated the 150th anniversary of the iconic composition. The event was held at Ravindralaya on Sunday.
Organised as part of the book fair activities, the workshop witnessed a team of 11 young artists collaboratively creating a grand painting on a 3×15-foot canvas from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The initiative was coordinated by noted artist and art critic Bhupendra Kumar Asthana, who led the artists in expressing the spirit of patriotism associated with the historic national song.
The workshop began with the distribution of art material kits to the artists by Narendra Singh, Program Officer of the National Book Trust (Lucknow branch) and a retired army serviceman. Addressing the gathering, he described Vande Mataram as a timeless source of inspiration that strengthens the ideals of patriotism, sacrifice and national pride. Prominent attendees included Manoj Chandel, Bhupendra Kumar Asthana, Ravi Agrahari and Aakarsh Chandel.
The national song was composed by renowned litterateur Bankim Chandra Chatterjee on November 7, 1875, in a blend of Sanskrit and Bengali. During India’s freedom struggle, it emerged as a powerful symbol of resistance and national unity.
According to Asthana, the painting incorporates visual narratives from the Indian Rebellion of 1857 to the country’s independence movement, portraying legendary freedom fighters, India’s rich cultural heritage and symbolic depictions of Bharat Mata. Through vibrant colours and expressive lines, the artists sought to convey the emotional and patriotic essence of Vande Mataram.
The participating artists included Bhupendra Kumar Asthana, Ashwani Kumar Prajapati, Gaurang Agrawal, Siddharth Dev, Kapil Sharma, Shiva Verma, Vishwas Mishra, Shreya Goswami, Sandhya Vishwakarma, Neha and Varsha Sharma.
The event concluded with certificates being presented to all participating artists by noted stage, radio, television and film actor Anil Rastogi, marking a memorable artistic tribute to one of India’s most cherished national symbols.
