On 19th May, the BJP government in West Bengal issued an order making the singing of the national song, Vande Mataram, compulsory in all madrasas across the state.
“I am directed to order that in supersession of all previous orders and practices, singing of Vande Mataram during assembly prayers, prior to the commencement of classes, is hereby made mandatory in all Madrasahs [Govt. Model Madrasahs (English Medium)/Recognised Govt. Aided Madrasahs/Approved MSKs/Approved SSKs / Recognised Unaided Madrasahs] under the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department, across the State of West Bengal, with immediate effect,” the order signed by the state Director of Madarsa Education reads.
Notably, the state government has already issued a similar order directing all schools to sing Vande Mataram during morning prayers.
Earlier this month, the Modi government decided to give the song the same status as the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. Along with this, the Cabinet also approved changes to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act.
With this decision, Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, now comes under the same legal protection as the national anthem. Any deliberate insult to the song or attempts to disrupt its singing can now lead to punishment. The historic decision was linked to the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’.
