KOLKATA, May 21: The West Bengal government has made the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ at assembly prayers compulsory in all madrassas with immediate effect, according to an official order.
The order by the Directorate of Madrasah Education came nearly a week after the state’s BJP government made singing the national song mandatory in all schools.
The latest order stated the directive would apply to the government’s model madrassas, government-aided madrassas, approved Shishu Shiksha Kendra and Madhyamik Shiksha Kendras, as well as recognised unaided madrassas functioning under the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department.
“Singing of Vande Mataram during assembly prayers, prior to the commencement of classes, is hereby made mandatory,” the notification stated.
A senior official of the department said the decision was aimed at bringing “uniformity in assembly practices” across institutions under the department.
“The order has been issued with the approval of the competent authority and is to be implemented with immediate effect,” the official added.
The notification was circulated to district magistrates, district inspectors of schools, the West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education and other senior officials for necessary action.
Last week, the state government directed all state-run and aided schools to mandatorily include the singing of Vande Mataram during morning assemblies with immediate effect.
The directive states that every student must participate in singing the national song at the start of the school day. Heads of institutions have been instructed to ensure strict compliance.
“The singing of Vande Mataram during morning assembly prayers prior to the start of classes should be made mandatory so that Vande Mataram is sung by all students in all schools in the state with immediate effect,” the Director of Education said in a communication to state-run and state-aided school heads on May 13.
Bengal govt’s decision arbitrary: Opposition
Opposition parties in West Bengal on Thursday criticised the BJP government’s decision to make the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ mandatory in all madrasahs across the state, terming the move as “arbitrary” and an “attempt to undermine the country’s pluralistic ethos”.
Senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty alleged that the government was trying to divert attention from the “deterioration” of the education sector, while state Congress veteran Pradip Bhattacharjee dubbed the Directorate of Madrasah Education order “incorrect”.
“The TMC had destroyed the education system in the state. The primary concern of this government should be rebuilding the sector. But the administration is more interested in deciding which song should be the assembly prayer in schools. It shows their intention to instigate people and not to improve the education sector,” Chakraborty told PTI.
Bhattacharjee said the ‘Vande Mataram’ song has historically been associated with protest and political mobilisation, making it compulsory in madrasahs was “not appropriate”.
“We have used ‘Vande Mataram’ during political rallies and protests. I think making it mandatory in madrasahs is an incorrect decision. The government could have consulted with the teachers in the madrasahs and could have allowed them to decide. This is an arbitrary decision,” Bhattacharjee told PTI.
He said the move could trigger resentment in some sections of society and urged the government to reconsider its stand.
Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar accused the BJP of “attempting to undermine India’s pluralistic ethos” and said, “We have been warning about the danger of the BJP.” He referred to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s repeated assertions that the BJP seeks to “weaken the country’s pluralistic and multicultural traditions”.
Former TMC minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury, however, refrained from commenting on the issue.
Incidentally, the move comes shortly after the Union government initiated steps to strengthen provisions related to respect for national symbols, including a proposed amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, making obstruction to the singing of Vande Mataram a punishable offence. (PTI)
