In a significant protocol update, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued new rules mandating that ‘Vande Mataram’ be played before the national anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’, at all government events and in schools across India. The directive also requires all persons present to stand when the national song is played.
Under the revised guidelines, ‘Vande Mataram’ will now be performed at civilian award ceremonies, including the Padma Awards, as well as at official events attended by the President, both during arrival and departure. The song will also be played in public spaces such as cinema halls, although standing in such venues will not be mandatory.
Importantly, the government has directed that all six stanzas of the song be played, including the four stanzas that were dropped in 1937. Last month, sources had indicated that the government planned to extend provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act—which currently governs respect for the national anthem—to the national song as well. Under this law, any individual who disrupts or prevents others from showing respect can face a jail term of up to three years.
The move is likely to trigger political debate, particularly given past disagreements between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress over the song’s history and interpretation. The controversy intensified last year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of opposing the song in a manner similar to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, suggesting it might “irritate Muslims.” The exchange escalated during discussions marking the 150th anniversary of the song.
Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, countered by accusing the ruling party of politicising the issue and selectively quoting historical correspondence. The debate has particular resonance in West Bengal, where Assembly elections are expected later this year.
‘Vande Mataram’ was written on November 7, 1875, by Bengali author Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and later published in his 1882 novel Anandamath. The poem became a powerful rallying cry during India’s freedom movement, portraying the nation as a divine mother figure symbolising strength, compassion, and resilience.
However, the final four stanzas contain explicit references to Hindu goddesses such as Durga, Lakshmi (Kamala), and Saraswati. In 1937, the Congress leadership decided to adopt only the first two stanzas for official use, arguing that the later verses were perceived as exclusionary by sections of the Muslim community. The present directive to restore all six stanzas marks a departure from that historical compromise and signals a renewed emphasis on the song in its entirety.
The updated guidelines therefore not only redefine ceremonial protocol but also revisit a long-standing historical and political debate surrounding one of India’s most iconic patriotic compositions.
