Vande Mataram Directive Reflects Majoritarian Cultural Imposition

Sitaram Khoiwal, National Vice President, Social Democratic Party of India, unequivocally opposes the Ministry of Home Affairs directive making the full six stanzas of Vande Mataram mandatory at official functions, presidential events, gubernatorial programmes, and school assemblies, stating that it strikes at the very heart of India’s secular democracy.

This order ignores the historical wisdom shown in 1937, when the Indian National Congress adopted only the first two stanzas of the song after careful consideration to ensure that the national song remained inclusive and acceptable to all communities during the freedom struggle. The later stanzas contain explicit references to Hindu deities such as Durga and Lakshmi, along with temple imagery, which many citizens, particularly from the minority communities, find religiously incompatible with their faith.

By enforcing the complete version and requiring every attendee to stand, the government is coercing citizens in a manner that violates the fundamental right to freedom of religion and conscience. In a pluralistic society like ours, no one should be compelled to participate in a ritual that conflicts with their beliefs. Schools, in particular, risk becoming sites of division and discomfort rather than spaces of learning and unity.

He stated that this directive is not about patriotism but a calculated political step to impose a majoritarian cultural narrative and test the loyalty of minorities. True respect for national symbols grows through voluntary participation and dialogue, not through threats of penalty or social pressure. The ruling dispensation is once again prioritising divisive symbolism over the real issues facing the people.

He demanded that the union government immediately withdraw this order, asserting that India’s strength lies in its diversity, not in enforced uniformity. The Social Democratic Party of India, he affirmed, will continue to resist any attempt to undermine the secular character of the republic and will stand with all citizens who believe in an inclusive India.