The Union Home Ministry has issued a new protocol regarding ‘Vande Mataram’. Under this, it will now be mandatory to play or sing the full 3 minutes 10 seconds version of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ with six stanzas on many official occasions.
According to the report of Hindustan Times, this 10-page order of the Ministry has been issued on January 28, which has been sent to all the states, union territories, ministries and constitutional bodies.
According to the order, at the time of hoisting of the Tricolor, on the arrival and departure of the President from any event, immediately before and after his address to the nation, and before and after the arrival, departure and speeches of the Governor or Lieutenant Governor. ‘Vande Mataram’Will be played or sung. If both ‘Vande Mataram’ and the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ are presented in a program, then ‘Vande Mataram’ will be played first and then ‘Jana Gana Mana’. During this time the people present will have to stand in alert posture.
It is mandatory to stand during Vande Mataram
According to a report published in Hindustan Times, the ministry has clarified that when the official version of ‘Vande Mataram’ is played or sung, the audience should stand in respect. However, if the song is part of a news film or documentary, the audience will not be expected to stand, so as not to disrupt the program.
In fact, till now there was no clear official protocol regarding ‘Vande Mataram’, whereas the rules for time, tune and presentation of the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ are already fixed. This is the first time that instructions have been given to include the extended version with six differences in official programs.
Programs divided into three categories
In the order, the programs have been divided into three categories. The first category includes those occasions where the national song will only be played, such as civil investiture ceremonies, arrival and departure of the President at formal state functions, before and after the President’s address to the nation on All India Radio and Doordarshan, arrival and departure of the Governor or Lieutenant Governor at formal functions, at the time of hoisting of the national flag in the parade, etc.
The second category includes those programs where along with the playing of the song, there will also be collective singing. This includes occasions such as the hoisting of the national flag, cultural and ceremonial functions (except parades), and the arrival and departure of the President at any official or public function. For this, it has also been advised to provide choir, sound system and distribution of song lyrics if required.
The third category includes occasions where ‘Vande Mataram’ can be sung, such as school functions. The order states that the day can be started in schools by collectively singing the national song and efforts should be made to increase respect for national symbols among the students.
Special features of the new order on Vande Mataram
[q]What new order has the Central Government issued regarding ‘Vande Mataram’?[/q]
[ans]The Home Ministry has directed that now the official version of ‘Vande Mataram’ consisting of six stanzas, 3 minutes 10 seconds long, will be played or sung in many government and formal functions.[/ans]
[q]On which occasions will it be mandatory to play or sing ‘Vande Mataram’?[/q]
[ans]On occasions like arrival and departure of the President, hoisting of the Tricolor, before and after the President’s address to the nation, programs of the Governor/Lieutenant Governor and civil investiture ceremonies.[/ans]
[q]If both ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Jana Gana Mana’ are played, what will be the order?[/q]
[ans]First ‘Vande Mataram’ and then the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ will be played.[/ans]
[q]Will it be necessary for everyone to stand?[/q]
[ans]Yes, when the song is officially played or sung, everyone will have to stand at attention.[/ans]
[q]Is it mandatory to stand in every situation?[/q]
[ans]No, if ‘Vande Mataram’ is a part of the film in any documentary or newsreel, there will be no need to stand.[/ans]
[q]What are the instructions for schools?[/q]
[ans]In schools, the day can be started by collectively singing ‘Vande Mataram’.[/ans]
Earlier, was there any protocol regarding ‘Vande Mataram’?
No, till now there were no fixed official rules for this, whereas rules already exist for ‘Jana Gana Mana’.
Government’s emphasis on Vande Mataram
This step has been taken at a time when the Central Government is emphasizing on popularizing ‘Vande Mataram’. Recently, there was a long debate in the Parliament on the 150th birth anniversary of the national song and this year the theme of the Republic Day Parade was also kept as ‘Mantra of Independence – Vande Mataram’.
The first two stanzas of this song, composed in the 1870s by Bengali litterateur Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, were declared the national anthem of India in 1950. in Parliament last year Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the discussion on Vande Mataram Had said that tampering with the original form of the song weakened its importance and also linked it to the partition of the country.
With the new order, a clear and formal system has been decided regarding the honoring and presentation of ‘Vande Mataram’, which will be implemented across the country.