Empowered Unity: West Bengal BJP Celebrates MHA Directive to Embrace All Stanzas of Vande Mataram!
The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expressed its approval of the Union Home Ministry’s recent directive, which mandates the singing of all six stanzas of the national song, “Vande Mataram,” prior to the National Anthem, “Jan Gana Man,” during official events. Historically, only the first two stanzas of “Vande Mataram,” penned by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, have been sung at these functions, while the remaining verses, which invoke Hindu deities, have been left out. The new order stipulates that the National Song will precede the National Anthem whenever both are performed.
Samik Bhattacharya, West Bengal BJP president, criticized those who perceive communal undertones in the references to Goddess Durga within “Vande Mataram.” “It is unfortunate if anyone sees communalism where there is a reference to Goddess Durga. I assumed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was a supporter of Goddess Durga, but their opposition to “Vande Mataram” now raises questions about the authenticity of their Durga Puja celebrations,” he stated.
The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has been actively promoting the Durga Puja carnival, a grand cultural event that showcases idols from prominent puja pandals as they parade through Kolkata’s Red Road, drawing significant public interest. In response to the BJP’s move, TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty accused the party of politicizing “Vande Mataram” in a bid to influence the upcoming Assembly elections, leveraging religious sentiments in a manner akin to their earlier use of Lord Ram for electoral purposes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently highlighted “Vande Mataram” during his public engagements in West Bengal, emphasizing the celebration of its 150th anniversary, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a gathering on January 31, accused Chief Minister Banerjee of opposing the song for the sake of her “vote bank” strategies, arguing that the people of Bengal will remember this decision during the elections.
The BJP’s emphasis on “Vande Mataram” coexists with a recent directive from the West Bengal government, which mandates that all state-run and aided schools sing the state song “Banglar Mati, Banglar Jol,” composed by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905. The BJP leadership has condemned the TMC for allegedly neglecting “Vande Mataram” during its sesquicentennial year.
With the National Song now being performed alongside the National Anthem and the state song at morning school assemblies, it is expected to take approximately six minutes for children to sing all three compositions. This initiative not only aims to reinforce national and cultural identity but also remains a point of contention in the political landscape of West Bengal, reflecting the ongoing tug-of-war between the BJP and the TMC over cultural symbolism and electoral strategy.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/west-bengal-bjp-welcomes-mha-directive-of-singing-all-stanzas-of-vande-mataram/article70620844.ece
Category : West Bengal
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Publish Date: 2026-02-12 03:26:00
