Sunday, September 03, 2006

On singing Vande Mataram

Sept 7 (2006) marks 100 year anniversary for our National Song Vande Mataram.

Instead of just celebrating this event we have got ourselves mired in a controversy. BJP wants compulsory singing of this song on this day while Arjun Singh said it would be nice to sing it but it’s not mandatory. When asked 'what about some people protesting against singing it', he responded – “They can stay home”. But for some reason BJP and its affiliates are not happy with this response. May be they were expecting a different response from Arjun Singh, something like – Yes, I decree that everyone in India should sing it. Whatever their reasons were, BJP thought those were serious enough to walk out of the Parliament and also instruct some of their state governments to make singing mandatory (on that day).

There are many things that have changed in my life. As a young boy, I used to adore certain film Actress and I put her pictures (hundreds of them) on the walls of my room. Now, I don’t find that adoration for her any more. The same is true for many of my obsessions and love objects- it could be a friend, movie, song or a food item. The ones that I liked, loved or obsessed a lot when I was young, I don’t necessarily carry the same strong feelings any more. I guess we all change, we mature. However we do have longing for certain things of the past. One thing that never changed for me since my childhood was my liking for our National Song and National Anthem. Each time I hear them, in any form, hair on my skin stand up straight, and for a while I am enraptured – I love the feeling.

I have often wondered what it is about these songs and my feelings for them. Am I patriotic? Am I a nationalist? Am I a die-hard fanatic? Or am I a fool?

I don’t think I am a patriot in the traditional sense- I don’t support many of my country’s actions - in fact I oppose many of them. I am not a nationalist either- while I am a proud Indian I don’t necessarily believe my country is the greatest. I don’t think I am a fanatic either because I am not ready to die or kill to defend my beliefs. And I am no fool either – because I keep questioning myself a lot.

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.- Bertrand Russell

I grew up singing our National Song and National Anthem everyday for the first few years of my school. Then I joined a Christian School and everything stopped. For the next five years they made me sing some Christian Prayer everyday. Now it has been many years since, but I can sing my National Song and Anthem any time – even if you wake me up from a deep sleep. But no matter how much I try I cannot recollect a single word of those Christian Prayers.

What is it about me that my memory selectively chooses one song while it completely ignores the other one?

Why do I feel so good when I listen to our National Song/Anthem? Is it the same feeling the religious people get when they listen to prayers to their God? Is it important for us Indians to know our National Song/Anthem? Do all religious people know their prayers? Suppose, a religious person does not know his prayers or refuses to sing them; will he be considered a heretic?

Should Muslims in India sing this song if they want to show us rest (the majority) that they are indeed patriotic? Especially during the testing times such as now – should Muslims do something more to prove that they indeed love India? Is it a prerequisite to love your country if you want to live in that country? Are you a traitor if you don’t happen to love your country? Can you be angry with your gods and still be religious?

Why do we need symbols- Like national flag, national anthem/song, etc? Yes, every religion has symbols; every organization and every cult has symbols. Should nations need them as well? Why do we identify ourselves with symbols in order to belong to a group? Should the respect and love for these symbols be enforced? Or is the love for and practice of such symbols voluntary?

I like it that I am able to feel the joy when I listen to these songs. Should I expect that everyone else feels the same about it? Is being Indian following and respecting these symbols? Let’s say there is a law abiding citizen who does not do any harm to that nation but has grudge against certain symbols the nation imposes onto him. And say there is another citizen who sings the National songs loud and clear, paints Indian flag on his face, but takes law unto his own hands, breaks it whenever necessary to his convenience. Who is a better citizen? And who is going to judge who is better? Who is going to decide the symbols and who is going to enforce them?

Yes, I love Vande Mataram and I would like to sing it on 7 September 2006. Do I expect everyone else living in this country to sing it? Definitely Not!

Links: [1], [2]

Update: 7 Sep 2006.
Some of the blogs that I have read accused Muslims that they take their religion so seriously that they keep their religious identity above nation. Some urge Muslims to sing Vande Mataram - because it is a national symbol and hence should come above their religious identity.
I have my answer to them:
If someone defines a practice of eating meating as one of the rituals of expressing one's patriotism and makes it a national symbol, will the higher caste chaste hindus who practise strict vegetarianism be willing to eat meat just to prove that they are patriotic?
And if those hindus refuse to eat meat, arguing that patriotism has nothing to do with eating certain food item or the other, will others accuse them of mixing nationalism and religious-caste identity?

13 comments:

  1. vande mataram has outlived its use and should be changed.

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  2. @cyberkitty

    Vande Mataram was the creation of Bankim chandra. It's a reflection of his thoughts and emotions.

    The fact that it has resonated with millions of Indians is another matter.

    The issue is not about its use( though i believe the song is timeless). The issue is about forcing someone to sing the song.

    Singing the song itself is an emotional journey, and cannot be enforceable.

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  3. hmm..interesting post, thanks for commenting on mine as well..
    I certainly agree with you, although for me,
    I, hindu, decline to sing vande mataram on 7th sept, just because some morons WANT me to sing it..I will sing on any other day, any other time, but no one tells me when!!

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  4. I have tried to look at the Vande Mataram issue from an Islamic perspective in my blog
    http://justlybalanced.blogspot.com
    for your information and comments

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  5. I agree, and that quote by Bertrand Russell is spot on.

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  6. You bring up some very good points. Keep writing.

    Mohib

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  7. we should agree to disagree to preserve unity! I am Indian and all Indians are my brothers and sisters.

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  8. Dear All,
    Patriotism and Relegion are 2 entirely different things / entities / topics of discussion. People who want to use Religion in Politics (ex: VHP & RSS) are merely staging a false propaganda and trying the mislead the nation.
    I respect the "thoughts and emotions" of Bankim Chandra for having created the Vande Matram. So i would agree with 'BD' when he says the issue is not about use but about forcing someone else to sing it.
    So people who feel patriotic would rather talk of their respect for leaders and freedom-fighters like Mahatma Gandhi or Chandrashekar Azad. That should probably be the focus of patriots.
    As Abu Muhammad says; all Indians are my brothers and sisters. This means irrespective of caste, religion, sex etc. all of them are Indians. Whether or not they respect the feeling of patriotism and sing the Vande Mataram; they are still Indians and deserve as much respect as others.
    People who are not patriotic exist everywhere. They could be from different religions, castes etc. They could also be atheists, fundamentalists etc. So Patriotism has nothing to do with Religion.
    Kindly delibrate on this. Comments / Criticism are welcome.

    Regards,
    Badri

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  9. Those who can`t sing vande matram they have no right to call themselves indian.
    Aby Cherian

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  10. I think jana gana mana is fine , we dont need vande mataram which is a stick to beat minorities in India.

    Surya

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  11. @Sujai

    I found this post on google ... Although the controversy is quite old..

    I hope u won't mind my opinion on it...Mind You and everyone this opinion is mine and entirely personal..

    You are free to disagree to it..

    First the fact I abhor VHP and RSS.

    BJP wanted to make it compulsory...to sing Vande Mataram .. so what's wrong in it?

    Just becoz BJP wanted it... therefore is it wrong?
    Well BJP is forcing it on us that may be wrong.. but it must have been made compulsory long ago..
    Look arround
    how many of us actually know Vande Mataram?

    What's the big difference?
    Ask anyone and anyone do you remember the first two stanza of "Babuji zara dhire chalo" and he will reply yes. Can you sing it .. well he may oblige.. but u can't sing ur national song?

    that's where ur relegion comes to play...

    That's what is wrong in it!!!

    It is unislamic... why? You could argue about that for may be entire song.. but first two stanza ...no CERTAINLY NOT... (search wiki if u want details)

    And even if u call it unislamic... then why don't those hardliners (Some and not all) be islamic and destroy all those DARGAH which is built In the country... ( many of them on encroached land).. The very concept of dargah is against islam.. Islam opposes worshiping of forms... isn't it?

    So where am I getting at... I want to say that In all the community there will be people who will oppose something that should be done... It's like devil quoting from bible ... the thing is Do we bite the bait?

    Think of country.. where nobody knows of the national anthem, national flag... wouldn't it be a shame?

    If you say, that's too far fetched...Then let me be more realistic... Why should we stand when our national anthem is being played. Our national song is given the same status as the national anthem. Why should we be even bothered to respect our tricolour.. I hate green so should I just pick up the flag and burn the flag... and going by ur logic there shouldn't be any problem in that as long as I dutifully follow our law. (assuming any intentional harm to tricolour is no longer an offense)

    And there are people who don't stand up at the national anthem... may be people like you don't find a problem with that but I do... And I also have problem when people step on the national flag after removing them from their vehicle on 27th january and 16th August.. may be you don't...

    So much that I have to restrain myself from punching them on their face...

    May be you don't feel ashamed when you see a physically challenged foreigner standing for ur national Anthem.. in theatre while our law abiding Indian youth are busy coochicooing.... But I do...so much that I find it difficult to look into their eyes...

    If I can keep roza with my muslim friends and celebrate Eid with them and they can play holi and burst crackers with me on diwali..

    I don't see any reason why can't they sing national song ... . It should not be compulsory.. It has to come within.. And if someone can't do that...then I suggest those people find themselves another country..irrespective of the fact that they are HINDU, MUSLIMS, SIKH or CHRISTIAN...or any other religion for that matter.

    Is being secular means only to appease the minority or is it to treat everyone as equal irrespective of their religion?

    Then why is that we are exempting someone from singing national song because he is a muslim.

    Since 1876 till 1947 nobody had any problem with Vande Mataram. Hindus, Muslims alike, shouted the slogan at the top of their voice..during the struggle for our freedom...

    Can anyone tell me where in the first two stanza that makes the national song is the Country reffered as DURGA...

    There are certain codes that are necessary..and must be followed...


    You can't simply dance in a funeral even if u don't want to put a sorry face....

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  12. Falcon:
    Thanks for writing.

    You said:
    You can't simply dance in a funeral even if u don't want to put a sorry face....

    There are few cultures where they dance during the funeral. In some parts of India, people are paid to dance while the body is taken to the funeral.

    The above sentence captures the gist of the different we have on what is ought to be imposed and what is ought to be a freedom. I believe that people have a right to dance at a funeral if they want to. But people do not have a right to impose it onto others whether they should dance or not.

    Since 1876 till 1947 nobody had any problem with Vande Mataram. Hindus, Muslims alike, shouted the slogan at the top of their voice..during the struggle for our freedom...

    The slogan of Vande Mataram was first used in Bengal by Hindus against Muslim rulers, and it was later embraced as a slogan to fight British. Even during the Independence Movement, Muslims objected to using this slogan since it has in origins, anti-Muslim tones and veneration of a Goddess.

    Then why is that we are exempting someone from singing national song because he is a muslim.

    Again, we differ on what needs to be imposed and what is a freedom. There is no law that one should sing Vande Mataram (and it should not be made a law), hence there is no case for ‘exemption’.

    One cannot talk about exemption from things that are not imposed. Taxes are imposed, and hence one can talk about exemptions. But a freedom, such as right to freedom of expression, cannot be talked in terms of ‘exemptions’.

    I don't see any reason why can't they sing national song ... . It should not be compulsory.. It has to come within.. And if someone can't do that...then I suggest those people find themselves another country..

    There is an inherent contradiction in your statements above.

    “It should not be compulsory” contradicts “people find themselves another country”.

    If I can keep roza with my muslim friends and celebrate Eid with them and they can play holi and burst crackers with me on diwali..

    You are free to keep Roza with Muslims and you are also free NOT to keep Roza with muslims. That’s how we define our freedoms. If you are mandated or forces to keep Roza with Muslims, then it becomes imposition, not a freedom.

    The same way, you are free to sing Vande Mataram, and you are also free NOT to sing Vande Mataram.

    Hope it is making sense.

    And there are people who don't stand up at the national anthem... may be people like you don't find a problem with that but I do... And I also have problem when people step on the national flag after removing them from their vehicle on 27th january and 16th August..

    I don’t have problem with people who do not stand up to National Anthem. I may not like it, but I will not ask for a law that prosecutes people who do not stand up to National Anthem. I don’t want to convert everything that I don’t like to be converted into a law.

    Why should we stand when our national anthem is being played.

    We stand because it’s a tradition. It’s our way of respecting our national anthem. Not standing does not directly translate to disrespect. One can have respect for a nation and still not stand for national anthem.

    I hate green so should I just pick up the flag and burn the flag...

    I would like to see that day when Indians are mature enough to tolerate the acts of burning of one’s flag while showing displeasure. It’s much better than taking guns and shooting each other.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Falcon,

    Sujai is the kind of guy who loses sleep when a Muslim sneezes in Banaras, and rings up doctors for consultation.

    It's simple: Since Muslims are the perceived enemies of Hindutva, and people like Sujai don't like Hindutva, the enemy of their enemy becomes their friend, irrespective of this enemy's many faults which they are well aware of but ignore. (And vote-banks come into play in all decision-making.) Because, spiting and "defeating" Hindutva has the highest priority for p-secs like him, because they are the enemies. (But they also validate people like Sujai's existence.)

    Aur bas aise hi duniya ka kaal-chakra aur khel chalta rehta hai - everyone taking sides based on real or perceived past injustices which they selectively pick-and-choose - for one side, it's Muslim invaders; for the other side, it's the Caste System. One side starts foaming at the mouth at the mention of Babu Bajrangi, but conveniently goes for a walk at the mention of Bitta Karate. One side finds fault with Sachchar Commission, but accepts Nanavati Commission. In both cases, sins of fathers are made to visit on the sons in the name of justice, but depending on which side you take, it's arbitrarily applied only in one case but not the other. Which makes you wonder whether it's really about justice, or some other game is being played here. We live in such interesting times!!
    -chirkut

    ReplyDelete

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