UP: Singing ‘Vande Mataram’ to be made compulsory in educational institutes, says Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath on Monday announced that singing Vande Mataram will be made compulsory in schools and educational institutions in the state.

Vande Mataram was written in Sanskrit by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875 and is a popular patriotic song from India’s freedom movement.

Speaking at an Ekta Yatra or Unity March and a community recitation of Vande Mataram in Gorakhpur to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Adityanath said the move would inspire “reverence and pride” among citizens towards Bharat Mata and the country, The Indian Express reported.

Bharat Mata is a personification of India as a mother goddess. The iconography is widely used by Hindu nationalists and is frequently criticised for propagating a Hindu-centric image of nationhood.

“There should be a sense of respect for the national song Vande Mataram,” Adityanath said. “We will make its singing compulsory in every school and educational institution of Uttar Pradesh.”

Adityanath’s remarks came amid a Union government campaign marking 150 years of Vande Mataram. The campaign, which runs until Constitution Day on November 26, includes nationwide recitations and cultural events.

On Monday, Adityanath also said that any opposition to Vande Mataram is part of a “conspiracy to create new Jinnahs”.

Mohammad Ali Jinnah served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until the establishment of Pakistan on 14 August, 1947. He was Pakistan’s first...

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