Vande Mataram Controversy: Mandating All Six Stanzas and the Constitutional Debate

Why in News ?

The Union government’s January 28 directive mandating the singing of all six stanzas of Vande Mataram at official functions has sparked objections from several organisations.

The notification requires:

• The full 3-minute-10-second version to be played,
• It to precede Jana Gana Mana when both are included,
• The audience to stand in attention.

Traditionally, only the first two stanzas have been sung at public functions. The directive comes amid commemorations marking 150 years of the song, reviving debates about its later verses and their religious imagery.

Origins and Evolution of Vande Mataram

Composition and Literary Context

• Composed in 1875 by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
• Written in Sanskritised Bengali.
• Incorporated into his 1882 novel Anandamath, which depicted the late-18th century Sanyasi Rebellion against colonial rule.

Role in Freedom Movement

• The song became a powerful nationalist slogan during the Swadeshi Movement (1905–08), symbolising resistance to British rule.
• However, concerns about religious undertones emerged early in the 20th century.

Congress Compromise (1937)

In October 1937:

• The Congress Working Committee recommended singing only the first two stanzas at national gatherings.
• These verses celebrated the natural beauty of the motherland and were considered free of objectionable imagery.

Correspondence between Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose acknowledged apprehensions among sections of the Muslim community.

National Song Status

In 1950:

• The first two stanzas were formally adopted as India’s National Song.
• The Constituent Assembly accorded it equal honour with the National Anthem.
• No mandatory recital protocol was prescribed.

The recent directive marks a shift towards formalising performance requirements.

Religious and Constitutional Objections

1. Theological Concerns

Some Muslim scholars object to:

• The depiction of “Mother India” as a goddess.
• The invocation of Hindu deities such as Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati in later stanzas.

Islam’s principle of strict monotheism prohibits worship of entities other than Allah, making compulsory recitation problematic for adherents.

2. Content of Later Stanzas

The third to sixth stanzas include:

• References to battle imagery,
• Identification of the nation with temples and shrines,
• Explicit comparisons with Hindu goddesses.

Critics argue these verses may alienate non-Hindu communities.

3. Constitutional Dimension

Opponents argue that mandatory singing may:

• Violate Article 25 (Freedom of Religion),
• Conflict with secular principles of the Constitution.

Supporters maintain that the song is a patriotic expression rather than a religious invocation.

Political Flashpoint

The controversy intensified during Parliament’s 150-year commemoration of Vande Mataram.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised historical decisions to limit the song to two stanzas.
• Opposition leaders cited Nehru’s letters suggesting the controversy was amplified by communal elements.

The debate reflects broader ideological differences over nationalism and secularism.

Significance of the Current Directive

1. Reinterpretation of National Symbols

The move signals an effort to revisit historical compromises concerning national symbols.

2. Secularism and Constitutional Values

Raises questions about:

• The balance between cultural heritage and religious neutrality,
• Limits of state-mandated patriotic expression.

3. Social Cohesion

Public controversy over national symbols may impact communal harmony.

4. Historical Reassessment

The debate revives discussions about the role of freedom movement leaders and past political compromises.

5. Institutional Protocol and Precedent

Formalising recital requirements may influence future norms regarding national symbols.