Dimapur, March 15 (MExN): Rajesh Kumar Sethi, National Coordinator of the Minority Department of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in Manipur, has expressed concern over a reported directive of the Union government making the recitation of all six stanzas of “Vande Mataram” mandatory in schools and government functions before the National Anthem.
In a statement, Sethi said the development raises important constitutional and social concerns, particularly for diverse and sensitive regions such as the Northeast and Nagaland.
He said India is a secular republic built on the principle of unity in diversity, and recalled that during deliberations in the Constituent Assembly it was understood that only the first two stanzas of “Vande Mataram” would be used in official functions.
According to him, the later stanzas contain devotional references to Hindu goddesses such as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, and limiting official use to the first two verses ensured that citizens of all faiths could express patriotism without feeling religiously compelled.
Sethi said the wisdom of the Constitution’s framers must be respected, adding that patriotism cannot be enforced through administrative orders but should arise naturally from respect for constitutional values.
He also criticised what he described as attempts by certain groups to impose “compulsory nationalism,” alleging that organisations which are now advocating mandatory recitation had historically not always followed similar practices.
Referring to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Sethi claimed that for decades after independence the organisation did not hoist the Indian national flag at its headquarters in Nagpur and that many of its earlier gatherings did not include the singing of the National Anthem.
He said such contradictions raise questions when the same ideological ecosystem seeks to impose symbolic acts of nationalism through government directives.
Sethi further cautioned that such measures could create unnecessary divisions, especially in the Northeast where social harmony and political sensitivities require careful engagement by the Union government.
“At a time when the country faces serious challenges such as rising prices, economic distress, unemployment and unresolved issues affecting states like Nagaland and Manipur, it is unfortunate that the national discourse is being diverted towards symbolic controversies,” he said.
The Congress leader reiterated that “Vande Mataram” is a historic song associated with India’s freedom movement and deserves respect.
However, he said the constitutional understanding that only the first two stanzas are used in official functions must be honoured and maintained.
Any attempt to make the entire composition compulsory should be reconsidered in the larger interest of national unity and constitutional propriety, he added.
Sethi maintained that India’s strength lies not in coercion but in mutual respect, adherence to constitutional values and genuine unity among its diverse communities.
