Thiruvananthapuram6 minutes ago
(File photo)
Kerala University’s Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal has given a controversial statement regarding Vande Mataram. In his statement, the university official on Saturday said, “Those who oppose Vande Mataram do not know who their mother is. The country is called Mother India, and Vande Mataram is related to this thought.”
Kunnummal made this statement at the RSS youth conference in Manvila, Thiruvananthapuram, in Kerala. Student organizations SFI and KSU have accused Kunnummal of promoting the RSS agenda in the university.
Vice-Chancellors accused of promoting RSS agenda
Kunnummal’s statement comes at a time when there is a political controversy in Kerala regarding the proximity of university vice-chancellors to the RSS.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) have questioned the appointment of Kannummal as Vice-Chancellor by the Governor of Kerala. Both alliances have accused it of an attempt to saffronize the state’s education system.
New law enacted on July 29 imposes years’ imprisonment for disrespecting Vande Mataram
This controversy regarding Vande Mataram comes at a time when Parliament has recently passed a new law providing legal protection to it. Under this, Vande Mataram has received legal protection equivalent to ‘Jana Gana Mana’. Intentionally disrespecting it or obstructing its singing is punishable by up to 3 years in jail, a fine, or both.
Center’s Order, ‘First Vande Mataram, then Jana Gana Mana’
On July 9, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued new directives to all states, union territories, and central ministries regarding the singing and playing of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ and the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’. It instructed to follow the correct lyrics, pronunciation, and established protocol for both.
According to the directives, if both Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana are sung or played at an event, Vande Mataram will be first, followed by the national anthem. If a state or union territory also has its own state song, then the state song will be first, then Vande Mataram, and finally Jana Gana Mana.
Order came for the first time on January 28
Earlier, on January 28, the government had issued the same order to all states. According to this, the national song will be played at the beginning of the day in all schools.
Every person will have to stand during Vande Mataram. All 6 stanzas of the national song will be sung. Their total duration is 3.10 minutes. Earlier, only two stanzas were sung.
Cinema halls have been kept away from the new rules. This means that playing Vande Mataram and standing before the start of a film in cinemas will not be mandatory.
If the national song is played as part of a newsreel or documentary film, viewers will not be required to stand during that time.
