Only two stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ at official events: Karnataka govt  issues order

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has issued an order allowing only the first two stanzas of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ to be sung at official programmes organised by the state government. The order is contrary to the guidelines issued by the Union government. The state government said the decision to limit the rendition to two stanzas was taken to manage the duration of public programmes.

However, the order allows the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ to be sung at events attended in person by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor. The Congress leadership said the decision to sing only two stanzas was in continuation of the historic position adopted by the party in 1937.

The Union government had issued guidelines giving ‘Vande Mataram’ the same legal protection as the national anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’. The guidelines state that the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ should be sung or played at official programmes and ceremonies held in the states.

Everyone present at an event is required to stand and show respect while ‘Vande Mataram’ is being sung. If both the national song and the national anthem are sung at a public event, ‘Vande Mataram’ should be performed first, followed by ‘Jana Gana Mana’. The guidelines also call for the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ to be sung at school assemblies.