Vande Mataram and a needless controversy

In September, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto addressed the United Nations General Assembly with two greetings that, incidentally, had the same meaning.

- Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan, The views expressed are personal

Assalamu alaikum (Arabic) and Om Swastiastu (Sanskrit) mean may God have grace on you. Indonesia, of course, is the most populous Muslim nation in the world.Leaders of the Islamic nations always use the Arabic greeting, but Subianto stuck to the traditions that his forefathers and predecessors followed, which dates back to long before the advent of Islam in the island-nation. In Indonesia, many families still invoke Lord Ganesha during auspicious occasions.

You must be wondering why Iam mentioning all this. Parliament is poised to discuss the revolutionary song, Vande Mataram, on its 150th anniversary. For years, its singing, or rather the lack of it, has been in the eye of a storm over religious beliefs. A section of the Muslim population not only refuses to sing the whole song, but also mention the term Vande Mataram. The reason is the song mentions the motherland as a reflection of Goddesses Durga and Lakshmi.