CAN CONTROVERSY ON VANDE MATARAM FINALLY END?

This year in the month of September Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto addressed the United Nations General Assembly with two greetings that, incidentally, had the same meaning.

- SHASHI SHEKHAR

Assalam Walekum (Arabic) and Om Swastiastu (Sanskrit) mean may God have grace on you. Indonesia is the most populous Muslim nation in the world.

Leaders of Islamic nations always use the Arabic greeting but Subianto stuck to the traditions that his forefathers and predecessors followed which dates back before the advent of Islam on the island nation. In Indonesia many families still invoke Lord Ganesha during auspicious occasions. There was a time when Lord Ganesha's image adorned their 20,000 Rupiah note.

You must be wondering why I am mentioning these examples.

Parliament is set to discuss revolutionary song Vande Mataram on its 150th anniversary. For years its singing has drawn controversy. A section of Muslims doesn't accept it as the National Song. They not only refuse to sing the whole song but are adamant not to mention the term Vande Mataram. Why? The song mentions the motherland as a reflection of goddesses Durga and Lakshmi.