Patriotic fervour marks Tirupati Book Festival

To mark the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, 150 students sang the national song at the 18th Tirupati Book Festival 2026, displaying patriotic fervour. 

IISER Tirupati Director Santanu Bhattacharya said that the habit of reading books would continue to thrive, despite the advent of artificial intelligence (AI). “Critical thinking can never become the job of AI, as the human intellect will always reign supreme,“ said Mr. Bhattacharya.

Similarly, Kolkata-based Netaji Research Bureau Executive Director Sumantra Bose, who is also a professor of International and Comparative Politics at Krea University, Sri City, recalled the manner in which Vande Mataram filled patriotism in the Indian minds and hearts during the freedom struggle.

A grand nephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Mr. Bose recalled that his entire family had dedicated their lives to the cause of freedom struggle. He also explained how the song bagged the approval of leading political personalities like Netaji and Rabindranath Tagore.

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Mumbai) executive secretary Jagdish Lakhani and Tirupati Kendra director N. Satyanarayana Raju recalled the vision of Bhavan’s founder K.M. Munshi in perpetuating the habit of book reading by bringing out good publications.

Bhavan’s Guntur unit secretary P. Ramachandra Raju and Bhimavaram unit member D.V. Lakshmipati Raju also took part.