By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 11: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Wednesday voiced strong opposition to a reported central government directive requiring institutions and government offices to sing all six stanzas of Vande Mataram, labeling it an imposition on indigenous communities.
In a statement, KSU general secretary Donald V Thabah argued that the song, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1882, contains stanzas referring to Hindu deities. He pointed out that a 1937 committee—including Rabindranath Tagore, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, and Jawaharlal Nehru—had recommended using only the first two stanzas during the freedom movement as they focus on the land rather than religious beliefs.
Thabah claimed the February 6 directive forces people of different faiths to engage in religious expressions linked to Hinduism. “The Khasi community does not identify with the contents of the later stanzas of Vande Mataram, especially those that praise Hindu deities,” he said, noting that the community follows its own traditions, including Niam Tynrai and Christianity.
The KSU further stated that compelling the singing of the entire song constitutes an intrusion into Khasi customs and beliefs. Thabah also recalled a past controversy where schoolgirls were reportedly asked to wear mainland traditional attire, questioning why indigenous dress like the jainsem and dhara were overlooked.
Urging the state government and educational institutions to ignore the directive, the KSU noted that several other Northeastern states have already expressed opposition. Thabah maintained that the Khasi people would not accept any imposition that undermines their distinct identity and culture.
