At 70, show some maturity
The State must stop all attempts to create patriots by coercion
Patriotism appears to be the flavour of the Independence Day week. Predictably, governments at the Centre and in the states are creating a nationalist frenzy among citizens by way of instructions on hoisting the Tricolour and singing patriotic songs. But as the nation turns 70, a disturbing new trend is asking minority educational institutions to flaunt their patriotism and furnish evidence of the same. Last week, the Yogi Adityanath government instructed 8,000 madrasas to organise programmes on August 15 that pay a tribute to freedom fighters. The circular stated that officers should ensure shooting of videos at madrasas and keep these as video evidence. Last week, a Muslim preacher from Mumbai asked madrasas to fly the Tricolour on Independence Day. Also the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation made the singing of Vande Mataram compulsory in civic schools. On Sunday, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded that the Centre enact a law making the singing of Vande Mataram mandatory.
The idea has sparked discontent among Muslims since the lyrics deify the Motherland. Community leaders argue that Islam prescribes worship only for Allah. Even when India became independent, Vande Mataram was among the songs considered for the status of national anthem but the idea was discarded when a large section of Muslims perceived it as inappropriate. Making Vande Mataram mandatory isn’t just odious but also unconstitutional. In February, observing that the Constitution didn’t have provision for the concept of a national song, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain a plea that directed the Centre to frame a national policy to promote Vande Mataram. A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said Article 51A (fundamental duties) of the Constitution required the promotion only of the National Anthem and the Tricolour.
States such as West Bengal have resisted the heavy-handed diktats of the government on celebrating Independence Day in the manner that New Delhi deems fit. Why should the voluntary expression of patriotism through singing Vande Mataram become a mandatory act? Also, why do Muslims have to express their nationalism more loudly than the majority community and furnish proof of their patriotism on a day to day basis? This doesn’t agree with the ideals of freedom or secularism that India set out with in 1947.