Vande Mataram stirs hornet's nest

Mumbai, Sept 4 (UNI) The recent order by the Human Resource Development Ministry to mark the centenary celebrations of 'Vande Mataram' on September 7 has stirred a hornet's nest with Muslim clerics insisting that their faith doesn't permit to sing praises on anything except God.

Cleric Syed Ather Ali told UNI, '' We are not against the national song, we understand its importance and sensitivity. But our faith doesn't permit to sing praises on anything except the almighty Allah.'' He said certain words in the national song are objectionable to Islamic teachings and that is the only reason why a large number of Muslims are averse to singing it. The whole controversy on 'Vande Matram' is a political gimmick to inflame communal passions in the country, he added.

However, Shia Council of India general secretary Zaheer Abbas Rizvi said sanctity of the National song has been diluted as a result of narrow politiking by a section of the political establishment.

''It is not only deplorable but shameful that Muslims in the world's largest democracy have to prove their patriotism time and again,'' Mr Rizvi added.

''Vande Mataram'' was composed in sanskrit by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. It was accorded the same status as that to the national song.

However, debate over the issue was settled by a committe headed by Pt Jawarharlal Nehru in 1937 which recommended that wherever ''Vande Mataram'' is sung at national gatherings, only the first two paragraphs be sung. After that, the organisers would be free to sing any other song.

UNI GVS WD AK RN1732