Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Vande Mataram issue

The article "A souvenir, not an emblem" (OP-Ed, Sept. 6) has done extremely well to expose the basic issues involved in the Vande Mataram controversy. It should serve as an eye-opener to all those who wish to make capital out of irrelevant issues for vested interests.

K.J. Joseph,
Chennai

In trying to forge an Indian nationalism we have forgotten that the national song has a subtext and meaning, which can be viewed as communal. It is a song written as a paean to Durga. The song has changed subtexts many times — from a paean to a war cry to an official national song. Bowing is equivalent to worship in Islam. The call to genuflect before the motherland is in contradiction to the monotheism of Islam. In this context, it is worthwhile to recall the U.S. Supreme Court's verdict in the West Virginia State Board of Education versus Barnette case exempting Jehovah's Witnesses from saluting the American flag on the ground that refusal to salute the flag harmed no one, did not violate anyone else's rights, and posed no danger to public order.

Vasundhara Sirnate,
Berkeley, California

Many people are finding fault with Muslims for their reluctance to sing Vande Mataram. But how many Indians know the meaning of the song? It contains references to goddess Saraswati and Durga. Let us be fair to Muslims and stop questioning their patriotism in the context of the song.

N. Nagesh,
Chennai

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee took a train from Calcutta to visit his village of Kantalapada in 1875. He was enchanted by the landscape and wrote Vande Mataram. In all probability, he wrote it in praise of Bengal. The song did induce national fervour though. But our idea of patriotism cannot be forced on anyone. As we have Jana Gana Mana as the national anthem, the singing of Vande Mataram should not be made compulsory.

Dharmaraj Joseph,
Tirunelveli, T.N.

Ashok Singhal is the international president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and not the sole proprietor of India. He has no business to ask the opponents of the national song to leave this country (Sept. 6). For the Muslims who opted to stay back in India during Partition, India will continue to be the motherland for the rest of their lives. They are part and parcel of their country's moments of joy and agony and will remain so. It does not mean a person does not love his country if he does not sing Vande Mataram.

A. Jainulabdeen,
Chennai

When Vande Mataram contradicts the faith of Muslims, why make its recitation compulsory? Muslims do not need to give proof of their patriotism to anyone.

Mohammed Ayaz Qureshi,
Hosur, T.N.

Imposing the song on Muslims is like a son asking his brother to say he loves their parents. What is the need for such an expression?

Nusrat Jaleel Khan,
Hyderabad

India is a democratic country where everyone enjoys the freedom to practise his or her religion. Forcing someone to act against his faith is an insult to our democratic character.

Obaid Hameed,
New Delhi

As citizens of a democratic and secular nation, we should salute the inspiring message contained in the song. At the same time, political parties should refrain from turning the issue into a gimmick in their campaign for majoritarianism.

Amandeep Samrao,
Patiala, Punjab

In the pre-independence days, fighting to free India from colonialism constituted an act of patriotism. Songs such as Vande Mataram and others originated in that backdrop and played a crucial part in mobilising the people. India has changed now and faces challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment. Fighting these would amount to patriotism in the changed context. So besides singing Vande Mataram, let us do something to address these challenges.

Thushar Thomas,
Bangalore

The purpose of singing the song — instilling a feeling of oneness — will be defeated if it is thrust on someone who prefers not to sing. Vande Mataram will neither stand to lose nor gain in stature if one sings or does not sing it. The urge to sing should come from within.

R. Ponnarassi,
Vellore, T.N.

The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board has contended that the word `vande' means `puja' (worship), which is not allowed in the Shariat. The word `vande' in the context of the national song means salaam as in Urdu. What we effectively do by singing it is doing a salaam to our motherland.

K.L. Narasimham,
Visakhapatnam, A.P.

The Urdu Classical Hindi & English Dictionary of John T. Platts, first published in 1884, gives the meaning of Hindustani words as commonly understood. It says `Vandan' is "the act of praising; praise, reverence, adoration, worship; salutation, homage, obeisance, etc." `Vandana,' it says, is "praise, worship, adoration and prayer." `Vandana' with respect to god would mean worship. Vis-à-vis the country, father, mother or teacher, it would mean praise, esteem, salutation, adoration or homage.

Moosa Raza,
New Delhi

The mantra that inspired us during the freedom struggle is more relevant today when moral values are on the decline. It does not mean anything more than praise of the motherland.

B. Dalal,
Visakhapatnam, A.P.

The Muslim clergy's practice of issuing orders, called fatwa or by any other name, erodes social harmony and breeds bitterness. This practice should end. Religion can flourish in its own independent sphere.

R. Sahadevan,
Chennai

The issue has been thoroughly politicised and communalised. We find several Muslim organisations taking part in various Hindu festivals of their local regions. Hindus reciprocate the gesture during Muslim festivals. Nobody issues fatwas against Muslims for taking part in such occasions. Singing a song cannot breach one's religious freedom. Do not people belonging to all religious faiths sing film songs without even understanding their meaning? Bankim Chandra was only expressing patriotism, not religious sentiment, in Vande Mataram.

V. Pandy,
Tuticorin, T.N.

Vande Mataram has a parallel in Britain. In the national anthem, God Save the Queen (or) King, the verse celebrating the defeat of the Scot supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie in the Battle of Culloden in 1746 was added and later discarded. Only the first verse of the anthem is sung on official and many other occasions.

John R. Marr,
Bangalore

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