Vande Mataram, its six stanzas and a settled question, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ordered on January 28, 2026, that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram be played at official functions, requiring attendees to stand at attention.
• In 1937, the Congress Working Committee decided that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram would be accepted as the National Song at national gatherings.
• The Constituent Assembly adopted only the two-stanza version of Vande Mataram as the National Song on January 24, 1950, honoring it equally with Jana Gana Mana.
• The Supreme Court in Bijoe Emmanuel vs State of Kerala (1986) held that standing respectfully for the National Anthem without singing is not disrespectful and is constitutionally protected.

Detailed Insights:

• The 1937 decision by the Congress Working Committee, supported by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, recognized objections to later stanzas of Vande Mataram due to their explicit invocation of Hindu goddesses.
• Article 51A(a) of the Constitution mentions the duty to respect the National Flag and the National Anthem, but does not include the National Song, indicating a deliberate choice by the framers.
• The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 protects the National Anthem, but does not extend the same legal protection to Vande Mataram.
• The Supreme Court's Bijoe Emmanuel ruling emphasized the fundamental right to freedom of speech and religion, protecting the right to remain silent during the National Anthem as a form of expression.
• The MHA order mandates participation in explicitly religious verses, potentially violating Article 25 of the Constitution, which protects the freedom of conscience.
• Forcing citizens to participate in religious observances under the guise of patriotism contradicts the foundational promise of a secular republic, where all citizens are equal regardless of faith.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Article 25: Guarantees the freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion.
• Article 51A(a): Enshrines the fundamental duties of citizens, including respecting the National Flag and National Anthem.
• Secular Republic: A state that does not endorse or promote any particular religion and treats all citizens equally, regardless of their religious beliefs.