By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter
In a judgement that is likely to cause controversy, the Madras High Court has ruled that the National Song Vande Mataram should be played or sung in all educational institutions including schools, colleges and universities at least once in a week, preferably on Monday or Friday.
Justice M.V. Muralidharan passed the order on a writ petition filed by K. Veeramani. Veermani lost the Tamilnadu’s Teacher’s Recruitment Board examination by one mark when he wrongly answered the question about the language of ‘Vande Mataram’. Veermani gave ‘Bangla’ as answer but the real answer stands to be Sanskrit.
Although the Court awarded Veermani his lost one mark, it said in its order – “Patriotism is an essential requirement for every citizen of this country. The fact that this country is our Motherland should always be remembered by every citizen of this country. Several people have sacrificed their lives and families to the independence struggle that prolonged for several decades. In these tough times, it was songs like our National Song ‘Vande Mataram,’ which created a sense of belief and confidence in the people.”
The Court has directed the director of Public Information to upload and circulate the translated version of ‘Vande Mataram’ in Tamil and English, making it available on government websites and social media.
The Court said, “Let a copy of this order be marked to the chief secretary of the government of Tamil Nadu, who shall issue appropriate instructions to the concerned authorities.”
The Court has also said that in the event any person/organization has difficulty in singing or playing the National Song, he or she shall not be compelled or forced to sing it, provided there are valid reasons for not doing so.
Previously, various municipalities in UP were making singing of Vande Mataram mandatory, a move which Muslim corporators strongly objected. Singing Vande Mataram in full has always been a religious issue for Muslim because the later verses of the song praise and pray to Hindu goddesses which make it controversial.