Shimla: From a literary composition to an enduring expression of national consciousness, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s ‘Vande Mataram’ was at the centre of an insightful lecture at Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla, on Tuesday.Delivering the special lecture on the third day of the institute’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Akhilesh Jha of the Indian Civil Accounts Service in the Union ministry of rural development explored the song’s historical roots, literary depth and powerful symbolism.Jha examined how the motherland’s imagery, represented through Durga, Kamala and Vani, conveys strength, prosperity and knowledge. He emphasised that the composition must be understood in its entirety, rather than through isolated lines, to appreciate its emotional progression and vision of a confident, capable nation.Director, IIAS, professor Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi presided over the programme.The day also witnessed the release of ‘Academic Writing in English: Enhancing Skill and Using Language as a Resource’, authored by IIAS associate researcher Jasmine Anand.An art exhibition ‘Bharatiya Forms, Expressions and Consciousness’ by Nisha Jaiswal and book fair remain open until Oct 15 at IIAS, when governor Kavinder Gupta will inaugurate a permanent gallery dedicated to Kangra miniature paintings at IIAS.