It’s not legally compulsory to sing Vande Mataram
The BJP is trying its best to gain political mileage from Sonia Gandhi’s absence at a Congress function celebrating the centenary — for which there is no firm historical evidence — of Vande Mataram. There is no reason why Gandhi, or anybody else, should be obliged to sing India’s national song. We had written in these columns that there is no need to wear one’s patriotism on one’s sleeve. This bears repetition once again. There is absolutely no legal obligation on anybody to sing Vande Mataram. The HRD ministry didn’t, in fact, have a right to ask all schoolchildren to sing Vande Mataram. If it weren’t mandatory for all adults to sing the national song, why should children be obliged to chant it? Are children expected to demonstrate their patriotism more vociferously than adults? BJP, and indeed the HRD ministry, have assumed that singing Vande Mataram, or for that matter Jana Gana Mana, is a badge of nationalism. It isn’t. There is no reason to believe that those who enthusiastically sang Vande Mataram on Thursday were somehow more patriotic than those who didn’t and just went about their work normally. It is also a mistake to assume that someone who opts not to sing Vande Mataram has no respect for national symbols. One can very well be a nationalist without shouting to the world that he is one.
Even if one goes by the letter of the law, it is not compulsory for Indian citizens to sing the national anthem. As long as one doesn’t disrespect national symbols, one cannot be penalised. This rule is applied with varying degree of flexibility the world over. With regard to the national flag, for instance, countries have different rules. In the US, flag burning is allowed despite a groundswell of opinion that it should be banned. In India, many restrictions on the national flag have been lifted. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, has been amended so that all Indians can fly the national flag as long as it is not disrespected. The flag can also be displayed on clothes above the waist. These are welcome signs. National symbols must not be the preserve of government. Citizens should be free to embrace them whenever they want to — there just must be no compulsion to it.
Source:- Times of India, 9 Sep 2006, Editorial
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2 comments:
The issue is not about the legality of it being compulsory. The issue is why would some people feel bad or ashamed of singing the national anthem or some patriotic songs. Why do they feel hurt on singing it ?
Regarding the right to force children, there are countless number of things children are forced to do in school which no adult is forced to do. If this argument holds, all school rules would have to be debunked.
The point is to try to make the children respect the nation. How effective it is, I don't know, but effectiveness of education is a different subject all together.
well the idea of singing is divided on the political upfront..it look tha they are responsible only to decide whether to sing or not singing of ne patriotic feeling...
above all there is scope of discussing the legitimacy of these acts...and there actually we fail.
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