Must sing Vande Mataram in TN schools

The Madras High Court on Tuesday made singing of the national song, Vande

Mataram, mandatory in schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions across Tamil Nadu.

The court also directed that the song be played and sung in all government offices, factories including private companies at least once a month.

Justice M V Muralidharan passed the order when the plea before him was only to decide whether Bankim Chandra Chatterjee had penned Vande Mataram in Bengali or Sanskrit.

“Patriotism is an essential ingredient for every citizen of this country. Several people have sacrificed their lives and families for Independence. In those tough times, it was songs like

Vande Mataram which created a sense of belief and confidence,” the judge said.

The judge instructed the Director of Public Information to upload and circulate the translated version of Vande Mataram in Tamil and English and make it available on government websites.

“In the event any person or organisation has difficulty in singing or playing the National Song, he or she shall not be compelled or forced to sing it provided there are valid reasons for not doing so,” Justice Muralidharan said.

Incidentally, the Supreme Court had in February dismissed a petition filed by BJP spokesperson Ashwini Upadhyay to direct the Central Government to frame a policy under Article 51A of the Constitution to promote and propagate the National Anthem, the National Flag and the National Song.

The matter relates to a petition moved by K Veeramani, who failed to clear the written test for the post of BT Assistant as he answered that the song was written in Bengali.