Vande (?) Mataram!

On the day of its centenary celebration whether or not to sing the National song of India is the latest controversy thanks to our politicians. But really isn’t the issue being blown out of proportion? If you are a patriot and you have studied a little bit of Indian history, you are bound to know what the two words ‘Vande Mataram’ (Pray Motherland) mean for India. They are as vital as mere existence of the nation. Due to some reason, this did not become the national anthem of India, but we are not concerned with it at the moment. The issue here is that supposedly these words hurt the Muslim religious feelings, as they are not supposed to pray for no one but Allah. In the Islamic religion praying someone else is an unforgivable sin.

Well to confront a few things from a personal perspective I am a very secular person and respect each and every religion as they all teach tolerance on the basic level. But is there any explanation for the latest controversy where the ‘Darul Ulum’ and the ‘Ulema’ (The Muslim religious leaders) supported by ‘Shariat’ (Muslim law board) standing clearly against singing the venerated song? Especially after 59 years of independence? For so many years Hindus and Muslims have been religiously singing this song with utmost patriotism, what made this lovely inspirational song become a subject of controversy?

To mention the unforgivable nature of this sin, what about one of the best music composer of this era in India, A. R. Rehman? Just a few years ago he recreated the thrill and the aura of the song by a new version of the song for beats-loving youngsters. It just brought more fans for the song, and revitalised the waning love for the nation and the patriotism. Now would the Muslim law consider this act as an unforgivable sin? No religion would! The basic thing that a religion teaches is ‘Love’. How that lesson has got forgotten? Who are the ones responsible for degrading the tolerance of Islam? Just because of some selfish people the whole world has started taking terrorism as a synonym to Islam. As Thomas Friedman says the world is under anti-Islamic doctrine. There are few things on which each and every one of us has to introspect. Why this gap is ever increasing between Islam and non-Islam? Is there any way to bridge it or only Armageddon can give a solution, as we might be nearing one?