Maulana Madani’s big statement on the necessity of Vande Mataram before the national anthem, new debate on religious freedom started – ..
News India Live, Digital Desk: The ideological war regarding the symbols of patriotism in India has once again intensified. The recent controversy started when some states and institutions suggested singing or making it mandatory to sing all the six stanzas of Vande Mataram before the National Anthem. Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani has lodged his objection on this, calling it an attack on the religious freedom of minorities.
1. Main objections of Maulana Madani (Religious Freedom Row)
Maulana Madani said that India is a democratic country where every citizen has the right to live according to his religion.
God and worship: Madani argues that in Islam it is not permissible to worship anyone other than Allah. In some stanzas of Vande Mataram, the earth is addressed as a goddess, which creates a contradiction with Muslim beliefs.
To forcefully impose: He clarified that we love the country and have full respect for the national anthem, but making singing of any religious or cultural song mandatory is against the Constitution.
2. Protocol of National Anthem and Vande Mataram
A large part of the controversy concerns its historical and legal protocols. Both have their own importance as per the Constitution and laws of India:
| Standard | Jana Gana Mana (National Anthem) | Vande Mataram (National Anthem) |
|---|---|---|
| status | constitutionally supreme | get equal respect as the national anthem |
| creator | Rabindranath Tagore | Bankim Chandra Chatterjee |
| inevitability | Mandatory in government events | Respect is necessary, but lack of legal clarity on obligation |
3. What is the issue of ‘Six Stanzas’?
Usually only the first antara of Vande Mataram is sung in official functions. The controversy escalated when a demand arose that its entire six antras should be sung. Critics say that there has been more use of religious symbols in the later Antaras, about which there is objection in a section of the Muslim community.
4. Government and supporting group’s side
At the same time, supporters of Vande Mataram say that this song was the biggest source of inspiration for the freedom struggle. According to him:
Vande Mataram is not a song of any particular religion but of ‘national devotion’.
Considering the country as ‘Mother’ is a part of Indian culture and it should not be seen through a religious lens.
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