Keith Mack
Vande Mataram, a poem written in Sanskritised Bengali by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the 1870s, was adopted as the national song of India in 1950. The poem played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and was one of the most popular songs of protest during that time. While there is no Indian law mandating the singing of Vande Mataram, the song holds equal status with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, and is to be honoured and respected equally. However, the absence of official guidelines or regulations has led to petitions seeking uniform rules for singing and playing the national song, with some arguing that it is being sung in an uncivilised manner and misused in films and parties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Status | Vande Mataram is the national song of India and has equal status with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana |
| Rules for singing | There are no rules or official instructions regarding the singing or playing of Vande Mataram |
| Religious references | References to the Hindu goddess Durga and Lakshmi were expunged from the song |
| History | Vande Mataram was a popular protest song during the Indian independence movement and was banned by the colonial government |
| Legal status | There are no penal provisions for not singing Vande Mataram, but citizens are expected to show equal respect to the national song and national anthem |
| Mandatory singing | There have been calls to make singing Vande Mataram mandatory, but this has been opposed by some as unconstitutional |
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What You'll Learn
Vande Mataram has equal status with the National Anthem
The poem "Vande Mataram" was written in Sanskritised Bengali by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the 1870s and was first published in 1882 as part of Chatterjee's Bengali novel "Anandmath". The poem played a vital role in India's independence movement and was one of the most popular songs of protest during that time.
In 1937, the Indian National Congress, pursuing the independence of India from colonial rule, adopted the first two stanzas of the poem as the national song, with the support of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. The national song was chosen by a committee consisting of Maulana Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Acharya Deva, and Rabindranath Tagore. The song was chosen because it was an ode to the motherland, personified as the "'mother goddess' in later verses.
In 1950, the Constituent Assembly of India stated that "Vande Mataram" shall be honoured equally with the National Anthem, "Jana Gana Mana", and shall have equal status with it. However, there are no penal provisions or official instructions about singing or playing "Vande Mataram", unlike the National Anthem. The Central government has stated that it is abiding by the directions passed by the High Courts and the Supreme Court of India concerning the song.
Despite the equal status of "Vande Mataram" with the National Anthem, there have been debates about whether the song should be mandatory to sing. Some have argued that the song was not sung by all communities and freedom fighters during the independence movement, and that it is offensive to a large section of Muslims. Others, such as BJP MLA Raj Purohit, have aggressively supported the mandatory singing of the song, stating that every Indian must sing "Vande Mataram".
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There are no rules for singing Vande Mataram
Mahatma Gandhi supported the adoption and singing of Vande Mataram. In a speech given in Guwahati, Assam, in 1946, Gandhi urged that "Jai Hind should not replace Vande Mataram". He reminded his audience that Vande Mataram had been sung since the inception of the Indian National Congress. Gandhi also supported the "Jai Hind" greeting but stated that this should not be to the exclusion of Vande Mataram. He was concerned that those who discarded Vande Mataram might one day discard "Jai Hind" as well.
Vande Mataram was chosen as the national song in 1937 by the Indian National Congress as it pursued India's independence from colonial rule. The song was written in Sanskritised Bengali by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the 1870s and was first published in 1882 as part of Chatterjee's Bengali novel Anandmath. The Indian National Congress decided to adopt only the first two stanzas as the national song to be sung at public gatherings, as the later verses included references to the Hindu goddesses Durga and Lakshmi, which were deemed offensive to a large section of Muslims.
Despite its status as the national song, there are no laws in India mandating that citizens sing Vande Mataram. The Supreme Court has clarified that even though it has decreed that the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, must be played in cinema theatres, the audience is not obliged to sing along. Similarly, there is no obligation for citizens to sing Vande Mataram, and any law requiring citizens to do so could be challenged as unconstitutional.
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Vande Mataram was a popular protest song during the Indian independence movement
There are no laws in India that make singing the national song "Vande Mataram" mandatory. The Supreme Court has clarified that citizens are not obliged to sing along to the national anthem, "Jana Gana Mana", when it is played in cinema theatres. Similarly, singing "Vande Mataram" cannot be made mandatory.
"Vande Mataram" was a popular protest song during the Indian independence movement. The song was written in Sanskritised Bengali by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the 1870s and was first published in 1882 as part of his Bengali novel "Anandamath". The poem is an ode to the motherland, personified as the "'mother goddess'" in later verses. The song was popularised by Rabindranath Tagore, a prominent figure in the independence struggle, who sang it often at Indian National Congress (Congress Party) sessions and protest marches.
The song became a rallying cry and a symbol of nationalism, unity, and resistance against British rule. It was chanted at protests and political meetings. The song was especially significant as it was set to the classical raga Desh Malhar, becoming a popular marching song. However, due to its religious connotations and references to the Hindu deity Durga, it was controversial and opposed by the Muslim League. Despite this, the Indian National Congress, with the support of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, adopted the first two stanzas of the song as the national song in 1937.
The popularity of "Vande Mataram" as a protest song led the colonial government to ban the recital of the song in public. Many independence activists were imprisoned for disobeying the order, but the ban was repeatedly violated by workers and the general public who gathered and sang the song in the presence of colonial officials. Despite its controversial nature, the song played a vital role in the Indian independence movement and was ultimately adopted as the national song of the Republic of India in 1950.
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Mahatma Gandhi supported the singing of Vande Mataram
In India, there is no law that mandates the singing of the national song, "Vande Mataram". The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, confirmed that the government has not framed any rules for the circumstances in which the national song may be sung. While the national song is meant to enhance the feeling of patriotism, there are no rules in place to ensure that it is performed uniformly.
Gandhi advocated for the adoption of only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram as the national song, excluding later verses that referenced Hindu goddesses like Durga and Lakshmi. This decision was made by the Indian National Congress, led by Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, to respect the sentiments of non-Hindus. The song's initial stanzas evoke the beauty of the motherland without any religious connotations, but later verses were deemed religiously contentious.
Vande Mataram played a significant role in the Indian independence movement as a popular song of protest. The colonial government banned the song and made its recital a crime, imprisoning many independence activists for disobeying. However, the public repeatedly violated the ban by gathering and singing the song in the presence of colonial officials. Gandhi's support for Vande Mataram is consistent with his inclusive patriotism, as he also valued songs like "Abide With Me", a hymn of the British conquerors.
In summary, Mahatma Gandhi supported the singing of Vande Mataram as a national song, specifically advocating for the inclusion of its first two stanzas. He recognised the song's tradition of sacrifice and its role in the Indian independence movement. However, he also respected the freedom of individuals to choose alternative unobjectionable songs if they found Vande Mataram objectionable for personal reasons.
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Vande Mataram is deemed offensive by some Muslims
Vande Mataram, a poem written in Sanskritised Bengali by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the 1870s, was adopted as the national song of India in 1950. It played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and was banned by the colonial government, with many imprisoned for singing it in public.
The poem is an ode to the motherland, personified as a "mother goddess" in later verses. This depiction of "Mother India" or "Bharat Mata" is considered part of the Hindu pantheon, and the poem contains references to Hindu goddesses Durga and Lakshmi. This conflicts with the Islamic monotheistic belief system, which forbids the apotheosis of any deity other than God, the supreme creator.
The refusal of some Muslims to sing Vande Mataram has angered Hindutva ideologues, who have accused them of being anti-national. However, the opposition to the song from Muslims is rooted in the poem's historical context and its conflict with Islamic religious beliefs. The novel Anandamath, in which the poem was first published, depicted the ethnic cleansing of Muslims and glorified this violence.
In recognition of these objections, only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram, which do not include explicit references to Hindu deities, were initially adopted as the national song to be sung at public gatherings. Despite this, some Muslims still find the song offensive, and in recent years, Islamic seminaries have issued fatwas describing the song as "anti-Islamic".
While there are no laws mandating the singing of Vande Mataram, attempts by governmental bodies to make its recital mandatory have been met with protests by Muslim members. The Indian Supreme Court has clarified that citizens are not obliged to sing along to the national anthem or any other song, and any law requiring citizens to sing Vande Mataram could be challenged as unconstitutional.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Vande Mataram is the national song of India. Jana Gana Mana is the national anthem.
No, there is no such law. In fact, the Supreme Court has clarified that singing the national anthem is not mandatory, so singing the national song certainly isn't.
Vande Mataram was written in Sanskritised Bengali by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the 1870s and was first published in 1882 as part of his Bengali novel Anandmath. It played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and was adopted as the national song in 1950.
Vande Mataram was considered for the status of the national anthem, but it was deemed offensive to a large section of Muslims, so it was not chosen.
No, the government has not framed any rules regarding the singing of the national song.
