K’taka’s new Vande Mataram protocol: Full song for national programmes, two stanzas for state govt events

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government’s decision to make it mandatory to sing only two stanzas of the national song “Vande Mataram” at events organised by the state government, while prescribing the full song for programmes attended by the President, Prime Minister or Governor, is set to trigger a political controversy.

The order, issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) on Thursday, stated that the first two stanzas of “Vande Mataram” should be sung at government events in the state. However, the government has made an exception for programmes attended by the President, Prime Minister or Governor, where the national song will be sung in its entirety.

The state government said the decision was aimed at maintaining uniformity, respect and proper protocol while playing or singing “Vande Mataram” at official functions.

“The State Government has considered it necessary to maintain uniformity, respect, and proper protocol for the playing/singing of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’,” the order stated.

The government also noted that the song had played an important role in fostering nationalism, unity and patriotism during India’s freedom movement.

The order referred to guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on the official version of “Vande Mataram” and its singing or playing at various government and public functions.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has issued guidelines on the official version of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ and its singing or playing at various government and public functions, to be followed as appropriate for the occasion,” the order said.

The decision comes amid a wider political debate over the singing of “Vande Mataram”.

The original song comprises six stanzas, while the first two stanzas are commonly used for official and public renditions.

In February, the Centre had made it mandatory to sing the full “Vande Mataram” at public gatherings and official events and introduced a Bill in Parliament proposing to make disrupting or preventing the singing of the national song a criminal offence.

The Karnataka government’s decision to prescribe only two stanzas for most state government events, while requiring the full song when the President, Prime Minister or Governor is present, is likely to invite criticism from the Opposition and trigger a political debate over the protocol surrounding the national song.

The Congress has previously defended its position on “Vande Mataram”, saying its stand is in line with the decision taken by the party’s top leadership in 1937 in the presence of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose and Sardar Patel.

The Congress has maintained that the 1937 decision was made in the context of the national movement and has been cited to explain the party’s position on the portions of “Vande Mataram” that should be sung.

The latest Karnataka order is therefore expected to become another flashpoint in the ongoing political debate over the national song, particularly with the state government drawing a distinction between routine official functions and programmes attended by the country’s highest constitutional authorities.

IANS