The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : To sing or not to sing

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Wednesday, Sep 06, 2006

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

To sing or not to sing

The controversy over the singing of Vande Mataram on September 7 is unfortunate. Worship of the motherland should not be interpreted as idolatrous. Muslim intellectuals should take the lead in helping their brethren see the difference between truly religious issues and misinterpretations. But then singing Vande Mataram is not and need not be the only way to show one's patriotism. If some Muslims and non-Muslims do not want to recite it, let them not do so. Similarly, not all those who sing Vande Mataram are necessarily patriotic.

K.V. Sundaravadanan,
Chennai

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During the freedom struggle poets composed patriotic songs in all languages, which inspire us even today. Vande Mataram was, undoubtedly, the one that stirred the entire nation. If some sections feel it is not in conformity with their religious beliefs, let them not recite it. But saluting the nation and equating it to the mother cannot be idolatrous.

B. Narasimham,
Chennai

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The national anthem by Rabindranath Tagore, Saare Jahanse Accha by Mohammed Iqbal, and Vande Mataram should be treated with equal respect as they all glorify our nation. Singing the praise of the motherland cannot be against any religion.

Ramaswamy Krishnan,
Fremont, California

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A song that has been associated with our national movement should be sacred to all Indians, irrespective of religion. The fact that the BJP is in the forefront of the `sing Vande Mataram' campaign is irrelevant.

S.P. Sundaram,
Chennai

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Vande Mataram is not the exclusive preserve of the RSS and the BJP. It need not be made compulsory but the basis on which some Muslims are objecting to its recitation is unacceptable.

R. Ganesh,
Chennai

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Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana are patriotic songs that have nothing to do with religion. They are as inspiring now as they were during our freedom struggle.

P.U. Krishnan,
Udhagamandalam, T.N.

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It is unfortunate that a song written more than a hundred years ago has been made a barometer for testing the patriotism of Muslims. The Hindutva brigade has grabbed the issue only to create a wedge between Hindus and Muslims.

The framers of the Constitution made Jana Gana Mana the national anthem because Vande Mataram is not in consonance with its secular character. The media should publish the full text of the song, so that everyone will know that the objections of Muslims are genuine.

K. Malikul Azeez,
Chennai

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The motherland is not Hindu or Muslim. Saluting it, therefore, should not be interpreted in a religious context.

Suchetha Myneni,
Hyderabad

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