‘Vande Mataram’ directive sparks political row in Bengal

The Centre’s directive mandating that all six stanzas of the national song, ‘Vande Mataram’, be sung before the national anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’, at official functions has triggered a sharp political face-off in West Bengal ahead of the Assembly elections.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

While the TMC has described the order as an attempt to “diminish” Rabindranath Tagore and stoke symbolism for electoral gains, the Congress has dubbed it a “divisive ploy”, and the BJP has countered that it is merely correcting a historical wrong and restoring full honour to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s song.

In an order dated January 28 and formally notified Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that when the national song and the national anthem are rendered together, “Vande Mataram’ must precede Jana Gana Mana.

It also laid down, for the first time, detailed protocols for singing the national song, specifying that its six stanzas, with a duration of 3 minutes and 10 seconds, be performed on occasions such as the unfurling of the national flag, arrival and departure of the President and governors, presidential addresses to the nation, presentation of civilian honours and ceremonial parades.

The directive has triggered a layered political response in poll-bound Bengal, where identity politics has increasingly revolved around the twin motifs of “Bangla” and “Bangali”.