by Arun Pathak
Bokaro: The cultural organisation Saras Bharat organised a literary and musical evening, ‘Ek Shaam Desh Ke Naam’, at Bokaro Club on November 5 to mark the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram.
The programme featured Kolkata-based musician and Sahitya Akademi award recipient Sushil Thakur ‘Sahil’, who presented Vande Mataram, while chief guest and veteran litterateur Buddhinath Jha spoke about the song’s history and its creator, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
Musical performances included Rajasthani folk songs by Sardar Manmohan Singh, classical and Bhojpuri renditions by Anil Singh, ghazals by young Bokaro singers Charukeshi and Charuvesh, and a Mithila-themed composition by Arun Pathak.
A special poetry session paid tribute to soldiers. Organiser Soni Sugandha and poet Reena Yadav recited their compositions, while police officer and poet Rajiv Kumar’s patriotic verses on Pulwama and the Indus waters issue drew enthusiastic slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’.
Saras Bharat General Secretary Soni Sugandha said the organisation aims to promote national consciousness and take the message of Vande Mataram across the country. Several literary figures, musicians and dignitaries, including Bokaro Steel’s Chief General Manager (Town Services) Kundan Kumar, attended the event. Sushil Sahil conducted the programme, while Sanjay Kumar Jha proposed the vote of thanks.
