Vande Mataram mandatory in Assam

In response to the instruction received from the Human Resource Development Ministry of the government of India, Assam government has issued a blanket directive making 'Vande Mataram' singing mandatory in all educational institutions in the state on September 7 to mark the centenary celebrations of the anthem that was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee from West Bengal.

Assam Education Minister Ripun Bora informed that the state government decided to issue a blanket directive to all schools, colleges and other educational institutions in the state to facilitate singing of the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' at 11 am on September 7. This was in tune with the HRD ministry directive issued by Assam government in August.

Assam happens to be the first Congress-ruled state in the country to issue such a blanket order to facilitate mandatory singing of 'Vande Mataram' in all educational institutions irrespective of their religious affiliation.

A section of political leaders from religious minority community in Assam, which has about 37 per cent Muslim population, have announced to launch a campaign against the government order making singing of the anthem mandatory in state educational institutions including Madrassas.

The Assam United Democratic Front president and perfume mogul Badaruddin Ajmal and vice-president H R A Choudhury stated that the party would oppose imposition of 'Vande Mataram' in the state's education institutions including madrassas. They opined that imposition of 'Vande Mataram' might hurt feelings of the members of religious minority community in the state.

The AUDF, a conglomerate of at least 13 religious minority organisations, was formed before the last round of Assembly election held in April this year in the state. They won 10 out of 126 Assembly seats in Assam in its maiden election.

The party, which has been trying to project itself as champion for the causes of the large immigration Muslim population in the state since its inception, has grabbed the opportunity provided by the nationwide controversy surrounding the HRD Ministry order related to centenary celebration of 'Vande Mataram'.