Bengal’s new BJP government makes singing Vande Mataram mandatory in madrasas

MUSLIM EDUCATIONAL Institutions in the state have reportedly been told to submit compliance reports ON HOW THE DIRECTIVE IS BEING IMPLEMENTED on the implementation of the direction.

The West Bengal government has made singing Vande Mataram mandatory in all madrasas under the state’s Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department, The Telegraph reported on Thursday.

The directive will apply to “government model madrasahs, recognised government-aided and unaided madrasas” in the state with immediate effect, according to a May 19 order by the director of madrasah education.

“In suppression of all previous orders and practices, singing of Vande Mataram during assembly prayers, prior to the commencement of classes, is hereby made mandatory,” The Telegraph quoted the order as saying.

Madrasas have been told to submit compliance reports on the implementation of the direction, the newspaper quoted unidentified officials from the department as saying.

The order came five days after the state’s newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party government directed all state-run and state-aided schools to mandatorily sing Vande Mataram during morning assemblies.

Schools in West Bengal had traditionally sung only the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, during assemblies. In recent years, the previous Trinamool Congress government had also introduced singing of Banglar Mati Banglar Jol, the state song.

On January 28, the Union home ministry directed that all six stanzas of the Vande Mataram be sung first when it is played together...

Read more