The Union Home Ministry has issued new guidelines requiring the singing or playing of all six stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ at designated government events and schools nationwide. Additionally, when both the national anthem and the national song are performed together, ‘Vande Mataram’ must precede ‘Jana Gana Mana’. In response to these rules, Shia Muslim cleric Kalbe Jawad emphasized the importance of freedom of choice, stating that individuals should not be compelled to recite the song.
Kalbe Jawad highlighted that ‘Vande Mataram’ was originally penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee as a message against British colonial rule. He stressed the historical context in which the song was written and expressed the view that individuals should have the liberty to decide whether or not to engage with it. The cleric emphasized the need for freedom in matters of religious expression and stated that imposing such requirements on everyone may not be appropriate.
The guidelines also specify that individuals must stand in attention during the rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’, except in cinema halls where it is part of a film or documentary. Unlike the national anthem, ‘Vande Mataram’ has not had a clearly defined national protocol until now. The government’s objective with these guidelines is to standardize the respect accorded to the national song and eliminate any perceived distinctions between ‘acceptable’ and ‘excluded’ verses.
