Muslim Law Board Rejects Centre’s Move on ‘Vande Mataram’
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has strongly opposed the Union government’s reported move to grant ‘Vande Mataram’ a status equivalent to the national anthem ‘Jana
Gana Mana’ and make the recitation of all six stanzas compulsory in government and educational institutions.
According to reports, the Union Cabinet recently approved a proposal to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, extending statutory protection to ‘Vande Mataram’ similar to the protection currently enjoyed by the national anthem. The proposal also reportedly includes mandatory recitation of the song before ‘Jana Gana Mana’ during official functions.
Reacting sharply, AIMPLB spokesperson S.Q.R. Ilyas termed the decision “unconstitutional and undemocratic,” arguing that it violates the principles of religious freedom and secularism enshrined in the Constitution. The Board stated that several later stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ contain references to Hindu deities such as Goddess Durga, which, according to the organisation, conflict with Islamic monotheistic beliefs.
The Board also referred to historical debates surrounding the song. It pointed out that in 1937, Rabindranath Tagore had reportedly advised limiting public use to the first two stanzas because later verses carried overtly religious imagery. AIMPLB argued that the Constituent Assembly’s 1950 position similarly recognised only the first two stanzas for broader public acceptance.
In its statement, the organisation warned that imposing the full version of the song could disturb India’s constitutional balance and communal harmony. The Board demanded immediate withdrawal of the proposal and indicated that it may approach the courts if the decision is implemented.
The controversy has reignited a wider national debate over patriotism, constitutional freedoms, and the place of religious symbolism in public institutions. Supporters of the move argue that ‘Vande Mataram’ is a historic symbol of India’s freedom movement and deserves equal respect with the national anthem, while critics fear compulsory recitation could deepen social and religious divisions.
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