Vande Mataram must precede National Anthem, says Centre

The Union Home Ministry has issued formal guidelines for singing Vande Mataram, mandating that all six stanzas be rendered first when sung with the National Anthem at official events, and outlining protocols for schools, ceremonies, and public functions

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has directed that all six stanzas of the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, shall be sung first whenever the National Song and the National Anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ are played together.

In an order dated January 28, the Home Ministry gave the first set of protocols for singing the National Song, directing that six stanzas of it, having a duration of 3 minutes 10 seconds, shall be sung on official functions such as the arrival of the President, unfurling of the tricolour, and speeches of governors.

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“When the National Song and the National Anthem are sung or played, the National Song will be sung or played first,” the order read.

The assembly where the National Song is sung shall stand in attention, it said.

“Whenever the official version of the National Song is sung or played, the audience shall stand to attention. However, when in the course of a newsreel or documentary the National Song is played as a part of the film, it is not expected of the audience to stand as standing is bound to interrupt the exhibition of the film and would create disorder and confusion rather than add to the dignity of the National Song,” it said.

The work in school shall begin with the playing of the National Song.

The Centre is observing the 150th year of Vande Mataram.

According to the order, the official version of the National Song shall be played accompanied by mass singing on these occasions — on the unfurling of the national flag, on cultural occasions or ceremonial functions other than parades, and on the arrival of the President at any government or public function, among others.

“There should be an adequate public audition system so that the gathering in various enclosures can sing in unison with the choir; printed lyrics of the official version of the National Song may be circulated amongst the participants, wherever required),” it read.

The order said that on all occasions when the National Song is sung, the official version shall be recited accompanied by mass singing.

“The National Song may be sung on occasions which, although not strictly ceremonial, are nevertheless invested with significance because of the presence of Ministers etc. The singing of the National Song on such occasions (with or without the accompaniment of instruments) accompanied by mass singing is desirable,” it said.

The order, all the same, said it is not possible to give an exhaustive list of occasions on which the singing (as distinct from playing) of the official version of the National Song can be permitted.

“But there is no objection to the singing of the National Song accompanied by mass singing so long as it is done with due respect as a salutation to the motherland and proper decorum is maintained,” it said.

The order said that in all schools, the day’s work may begin with community singing of the National Song.

“School authorities should make adequate provision in their programmes for popularising the singing of the National Song, National Anthem and promoting respect for the National Flag among students,” it said.

In a resolution adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950, it was decided that the composition consisting of the words and music known as ‘Jana Gana Mana’ is the National Anthem of India, subject to such alterations in the words as the government may authorise as occasion arises.

The song ‘Vande Mataram’, which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, it was decided, shall be honoured equally with ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and shall have equal status with it.