The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has called for the withdrawal of a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs that mandates the playing of the entire six stanzas of Vande Mataram at official events before the national anthem. In a press statement issued on February 12, General Secretary Maulana Mohammed Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi expressed strong objections to the government’s directive, labeling it unconstitutional and in violation of religious freedoms and the secular principles enshrined in the Indian Constitution. He asserted that this mandate not only contradicts an existing Supreme Court judgment but also clashes with the core religious beliefs held by the Muslim community.

Historical Context and Religious Sensitivity

Maulana Mujaddidi referenced historical discussions that occurred during the drafting of the Indian Constitution, particularly the contributions of Rabindranath Tagore, which advocated for the use of only the first two stanzas of the song. He emphasized that a secular government should not impose the religious tenets of one faith upon adherents of another. The General Secretary pointed out that the lyrics of Vande Mataram, written in the context of Bengal, include references to the worship of Hindu deities such as Durga, which Muslims would find incompatible with their beliefs. He asserted that Islam emphasizes the worship of a singular deity, Allah, and prohibits any association of partners with God.

Legal Considerations and Future Action

Mujaddidi further noted that Indian courts had recognized the inconsistency of the other verses of Vande Mataram with secular values, thereby limiting their recitation in official settings. Consequently, the Board has expressed its intention to challenge the Ministry of Home Affairs’ directive legally if it is not retracted promptly. The MHA’s new guidelines require that when both Vande Mataram and the national anthem are performed during events, all six stanzas of Vande Mataram must be played first, with a specified duration of 3 minutes and 10 seconds for the performance of the song.

Context of the Directive

This directive aligns with the ongoing celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, which was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. The timing of the MHA’s announcement has raised concerns, particularly given its proximity to the upcoming elections in West Bengal. Maulana Arshad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, has also publicly condemned the Union government’s decision, terming it a blatant violation of the religious freedoms guaranteed to individuals under the Indian Constitution.