After schools, Vande Mataram now compulsory in madrasas in West Bengal
After schools, Vande Mataram now compulsory in madrasas in West Bengal
M.U.H
21/05/202627
The West Bengal government has expanded its Vande Mataram mandate to madrasas across the state, making the singing of the national song compulsory during morning assemblies in all recognised institutions under the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department.
The latest directive comes just a week after the state government made the recital of Vande Mataram mandatory in all schools across West Bengal.
According to an order issued by the Directorate of Madrasa, the national song must now be sung in all recognised, aided and unaided madrasas before the start of classes. The order applies to institutions functioning under the state government’s Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Department.
The move marks another major education-related decision by the government led by Suvendu Adhikari.
FROM SCHOOLS TO MADRASAHS
Last week, the West Bengal government had directed all schools under the School Education Department to make the singing of all six stanzas of Vande Mataram compulsory during morning assemblies.
Students were instructed to sing the national song before the commencement of daily classes.
Announcing the decision earlier, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had stated in a social media post, “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 same practice will now extend to madrasas as well.
WHY VANDE MATARAM IS BACK IN FOCUS
Vande Mataram has remained a powerful symbol in India’s political and cultural discourse for decades. The song was widely used by freedom fighters during India’s struggle against British colonial rule and later became closely associated with nationalist movements.
The issue returned to the political spotlight ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections this year.
In February, the central government granted Vande Mataram a status equal to the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. Following that decision, it became mandatory for all six stanzas of the song to be sung at government functions and school events alongside the national anthem.
The development triggered fresh debates across different states and political parties.
CONTROVERSIES ACROSS STATES
In recent months, Vande Mataram became the centre of political controversies during oath-taking ceremonies in states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
In Tamil Nadu, the DMK criticised Chief Minister Joseph Vijay after the full version of the song was played before the national anthem during an official ceremony in Chennai.
In Kerala, the Left parties criticised the government after the complete rendition of Vande Mataram was played during an oath ceremony. The ruling alliance later clarified that the event sequence had been decided by Raj Bhavan.
The BJP, meanwhile, accused Communist parties of opposing Indian cultural traditions.
With West Bengal now extending the Vande Mataram mandate to both schools and madrasas , the debate around the national song is likely to remain firmly in the national spotlight.
