Bengal Erupts Over Centre’s Order To Play Full Vande Mataram Before National Anthem On Special Days

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A fresh letter from the Union Home Ministry has caused a huge stir in West Bengal today. This new order says all six stanzas of the song Vande Mataram must be played now. Usually only the first two verses are used in official events. The Centre wants this full version to play before the national anthem on special days. BJP leaders say this move honors the poet Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. But local critics in Bengal see it as a push for a specific religious tone.

The history of this song is quite complex for India. In 1950 the Constituent Assembly chose only the first two stanzas as the national song. They did this to keep things secular and fair for all religions. The later verses mention Goddess Durga quite clearly. Many scholars say this is why the original leaders avoided the full version for decades. Professor Moidul Islam thinks the current government is trying to change old Nehru era norms on purpose.

This fight is happening while West Bengal prepares for big elections. The Trinamool Congress government already has its own state song by Tagore called Banglar Mati Banglar Jol. They made it mandatory in schools last year to show a different kind of unity. The TMC says the Centre is trying to force its own views on the state. Researchers also point out that while the song inspired freedom fighters the religious parts can be sensitive for many groups.

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Some experts believe the government should have changed the Constitution before sending this note. They say a simple letter cannot change a practice that is seventy years old. For now many schools in Kolkata are confused about which version to sing tomorrow. The BJP stands firm saying the whole song is a tribute to the motherland. Critics argue it breaks the secular spirit that Netaji and Tagore wanted for the country. The debate over these six stanzas is likely to grow as election season gets closer.