Kolkata: The West Bengal government has ordered all recognised madrasas in the state to make the singing of the national song Vande Mataram compulsory during morning assemblies, extending a policy it issued for schools just a week earlier.
The Directorate of Madrasa said in an order that the national song must be recited in all recognised, aided and unaided madrasas under the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department before classes begin. The directive applies to institutions functioning under the state government’s Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Department.
The move follows a directive last week from the School Education Department that required students in all state-run and aided schools to sing all six stanzas of Vande Mataram during morning assembly before the start of daily classes.
Announcing that decision, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari posted on social media: “Overriding the previous directive, the West Bengal government has made it mandatory with immediate effect for all schools under the Department of School Education to sing the Indian national song Vande Mataram during the school assembly or morning prayer before the commencement of classes.”
With the latest order, the practice now extends beyond schools to include madrasas.
Why Vande Mataram Is Back On Agenda
Vande Mataram remains a charged symbol in India’s public life, adopted by freedom fighters against British rule and later tied to various strands of nationalist politics.
The song resurfaced in political debate ahead of this year’s West Bengal Assembly polls. In February, the central government equated Vande Mataram with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, and made all six stanzas mandatory at official functions and school events, sparking responses from parties and states.
Political Flashpoints In Different States
The reinstatement of Vande Mataram has triggered disputes in several states. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK criticised Chief Minister Joseph Vijay after the full song was played before the national anthem at a Chennai event. In Kerala, Left parties protested the complete rendition at an oath-taking; the ruling alliance said Raj Bhavan decided the event sequence.
The BJP has accused Communist parties of opposing Indian cultural traditions.
