Madrasas in West Bengal ordered to recite ‘Vande Mataram’

KOLKATA: In a significant policy move, the newly formed West Bengal government has mandated the compulsory singing of India’s national song, Vande Mataram, across all recognised madrasas in the state. The directive, issued by the Directorate of Madrasah Education, requires all aided and unaided institutions operating under the Department of Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education to recite the song in its entirety during morning assemblies. This development follows a similar decree enacted for all state schools just a week prior.

The series of mandates comes into effect shortly after the administration, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, assumed power. Historically revered as an anthem of resistance against British colonial rule, Vande Mataram emerged as a central flashpoint during the rhetoric of this year’s West Bengal Assembly elections.

The state-level mandate aligns with a federal push; in February, the Central Government elevated Vande Mataram to a status equivalent to the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. Consequently, the recitation of all six stanzas of the song became compulsory at government and institutional functions nationwide, triggering fresh ideological debates across the political spectrum.

The issue has sparked friction in other states as well. Recently, the inclusion of the national song at the swearing-in ceremonies in Tamil Nadu and Kerala ignited political controversies. In Tamil Nadu, the opposition DMK sharply criticised Chief Minister Vijay over the song's rendition. Meanwhile, Left-wing parties in Kerala voiced strong objections to its inclusion in their state’s ceremony, though officials later clarified that the protocol and order of events were independently determined by the Lok Bhavan.