Focus
Vandey Maataram and Mahanagar
In fact some years ago, it was Shaista Ambar, a member of All Indian Muslim Women's Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB), had gone on record saying "There should be no objection in singing the song written in the praise of motherland. We love our country and we support the rendition of the song". Here it is very pertinent to note that this very news paper had relegated an important news during this raging controversy into the 7th page in an obscure corner, as if it is just another news.
Then there was this remark by Salman Khurshid, a practicing Muslim and a Union Minister, "Fatwa against Vande Mataram unacceptable", published by the same news paper on page 11. Talking to Karan Thapar on the Devil's Advocate programme in the CNN/IBN, Salman Khurshid reportedly stated "The resolution in unacceptable. It is counter productive. It is not good for our Muslims!!" Why are our media friends being ostrich like? Or are some of them having a programme or agenda of keeping the society divided on communal lines?
In fact some years ago, it was Shaista Ambar, a member of All Indian Muslim Women's Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB), had gone on record saying "There should be no objection in singing the song written in the praise of motherland. We love our country and we support the rendition of the song". Here it is very pertinent to note that this very news paper had relegated an important news during this raging controversy into the 7th page in an obscure corner, as if it is just another news.
Then there was this remark by Salman Khurshid, a practicing Muslim and a Union Minister, "Fatwa against Vande Mataram unacceptable", published by the same news paper on page 11. Talking to Karan Thapar on the Devil's Advocate programme in the CNN/IBN, Salman Khurshid reportedly stated "The resolution in unacceptable. It is counter productive. It is not good for our Muslims!!" Why are our media friends being ostrich like? Or are some of them having a programme or agenda of keeping the society divided on communal lines?
Long ago, a Bangalore based English newspaper published a story titled "Mohammad the idiot", and predictably Bangalore was on fire. The people and their leaders, who indulged in arson, did not read the story. If they were to read and then react, probably the whole episode would have been filed as it happened in Kerala, where the Malayaali version of the said story appeared in press and people read, and got on with life. In fact the story became a talking
point only after the Bangalore flare-up. When it comes to mob-psychology, Bombay or Mumbai is as bad or worse than Bangalore. The reaction to any perceived attack on its psyche can be taken to any illogical end as we have witnessed in the recent past. You wo
uld wonder why this Bangalore episode here! Actually the title for the present article was initially coined as 'Vandey Maataram and Marathi Manoos'. Of course without any derogatory implication as one could perceive. It was felt that with the kind of a portion of the crowd, who would go berserk at the drop of a hat, wisdom took the better of the impulse. Hence Mahanagar of Nikhil Wagle (another bold Marathi mouth piece) became the alternative.
Coming to the issue of Vandey Maataram, it can be safely said, that it was extremely untimely and unnecessary for the Deobund outfit to rake it up, although, post Sri Sri Ravishankar intervention they toned down their rhetoric to make it sound as voluntary and left it to individuals. The controversy surrounding this national song is, as long, as it was written in late 19th century. Although the lofty intention of its writer-Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and published in his classic inspirational novel ‘AnandaMatha’-was to inspire and stir the emotions of young educated Indians to rise against the tyrannical colonial rulers of those days. Its singing initially had no problem. It was sung for the first time in 1896 Congress session. However it was only in Sept. 1905 it became a kind of a national war cry of freedom. To celebrate the centenary of the event, the then HRD minister Arjun singh in Sept 2005 issued an order to all state governments that all schools should sing Vandey Matharam on the 7th Sept. to mark the remembrance of the occasion. Of course the order was suitably amended to make it voluntary to appease the sentiments of those who opposed its singing, citing religious reasons. But quite frankly what is there in the song to oppose the singing. One writer by name A Faizur Rehaman, even wrote that there were reference to Goddess Durga and Godess Kali and therefore it is against the tenets of Islam. But then, capitulating to the pressure of Islamic opposition in 1923, the song was truncated to 2 stanzas from the original 5 stanzas. The following translated text shall show very clearly its meaning and spirit. (See Box).
From the above it is very clear that the author is deeply in love with his motherland, which he calls as his mother. The translation informs the reader, the descriptive beauty of author’s vision of the mother. And the beauty is, there is no mention of India in the entire truncated 2 stanzas, hence it could be for any country. So on the face of it, nobody, I mean nobody, shall have any objection to its singing. How does it become sacrilege-monotheist or otherwise?
What is sad is the dirty politics by interested political parties to yield to sectarian pressure not to sing the song. Even the then Loksabha Speaker Somanath Chatterji, who should be above any party affiliations, reportedly refused permission to BJP to sing Vandey Maatharam before Mahatma's Statue in Parliament. This refusal is insulting to both the song and the Mahatma, who was instrumental in introducing the practice of singing this in public and in Congress Party meetings. Thus it is indeed very difficult to really understand the politics behind such actions. Besides, when the Congress government wanted to celebrate the 100th year, nobody, either from Delhi or from Writers Building in Kolkatta, thought of its author, and the Bankim Bhavan, the ancestral house and birth place of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee at Naihati in North 24 Paraganas had no visitor nor any arrangement to celebrate the event due to the LEFT politics. This is our commitment to the history. So how would our school children remember such great souls?
Thus whenever it suited, Congress made it as a national song and played to the gallery as the situation warranted due to one-track-mind of a section of muslim society. And communists like Somanath Chattertjee rubbed it on BJP with the usual assumption that all actions of BJP are always communal. Unfortunately even media is such a divided house, that they generally look for negatives rather than positives.
The recent fatwa by Darul Uloom was not only uncalled for, it also shows the complete insensitivity of this seminary in dealing with an issue of sensitivity. It is the assertiveness of such organisations that really caused the rupture in the even paced life in India, due to the vote bank politics of certain political parties. One fails to understand what can possibly be wrong with singing paens to motherland, recalling its glory. Yes, as somebody observed in the media "Indian Muslims(some of them) took meaningless umbrage in some imaginary sacrilege against Islam and generations of Muslims closed their minds to this venerated song". Unfortunately it was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress President who played little crooked by not attending the 7th September 2006 function organised by the Congress Seva Dal! Were they pandering to the whims of the section opposed to the singing? What kind of a signal these two most senior functionaries of Congress were giving to Indians in general? And more often than not, media plays up to agenda based negative tendencies. Like one news paper had the headline "VANDE MAATARAM REMAINS OUT OF TUNE WITH ISLAM", in the front page in capital letters, but the same news paper had nothing to say, when some liberal muslim groups in Bhopal issued a statement saying that they have no problem in singing ‘Vandey Maataram’. Media must necessarily, not only publish such accommodative spirits but also highlight such groups to help emerge as alternative forces within the community, in the larger interest of the country.
In fact some years ago, it was Shaista Ambar, a member of All India Muslim Women’s Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB), had gone on record saying "There should be no objection in singing the song written in the praise of motherland. We love our country and we support the rendition of the song". Here it is very pertinent to note that this very news paper had relegated an important news during this raging controversy into the 7th page in an obscure corner, as if it is just another news.
"Shia board wants Vande Mataram in Urdu", is a significant news deserved to be printed better and placed in the front page for its very relevance. The statement "A worthless debate is being carried out on the issue which is communally sensitive. Muslims should be told about the real meaning and spirit of Vande Mataram" from Maulana Abbas, the spokesman o
f All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) is a positive development which should grab the limelight. Writing to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, with a copy to the President Pratibha Patil, the president of AISPLB, Maulana Mirza Mohd.Athar, 'asked the centre to get the national song translated into Urdu to help the community understand the real meaning and spirit of the song so that the controversy around the singing is eliminated, especially when some oppose and some favour singing Vande Maataram'. Now, doesn’t this piece of news deserve to be treated in all seriousness for the emotional health of the nation? Why are some members of the 4th estate like to portray always the negative, when positive aspects are not far to seek?
Then there was this remark by Salman Khurshid, a practicing Muslim and a Union minister, "Fatwa against Vande Mataram unacceptable", published by the same news paper on page 11. Talking to Karan Thapar on the Devil’s Advocate programme in the CNN/IBN, Salman Khurshid reportedly stated "The resolution is unacceptable. It is counter productive. It is not good for our society and our country. It is not good for Muslims!!" Why are our media friends being ostrich like? Or are some of them having a programme or agenda of keeping the society divided on communal lines? In this context what is amazing is, the whole of the media and the nation forgot that in 1997, 14th Aug. midnight session of parliament witnessed another historic event where Vandey Maataram was taken to a new height of melody and presentation as never before. Allah Rakha Rehman, a muslim faithful, known to the audible world as AR Rehman sang Vandey Maataram in his own inimitable style. Sheila Bajpai wrote in the print media on 15th Aug 1997, that "AR Rehman singing ‘Maa Thuje Salaam’ made your heart beat for India on the night of Aug. 14, 1997." "Indeed this song, more than anything else, was television’s most moving tribute to India’s 50th year of Independence", she added. Yes, why does the Muslim clergy and therefore their followers have to complain when it only means MAA TUJHE SALAAM? Indeed this clergy and their followers need only to look at this internationally acclaimed Indian music icon to find inspiration.
Coming to Mahanagar of Nikhil Wagle or other way round since Nikhil Wagle is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Lokmat-a CNN/IBN Marathi Channel, Bombay or Mumbai has become a stage for competitive one-up-manship between Chaacha Bhateeja of Maharashtra politics. Mahanagar also means ‘great city’, which Bombay or Mumbai is. Mumbai is the commercial capital of India. Mumbai is the celluloid capital of India. Mumbai is miniature India, with people from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari & fr
om Kutch to Kolkatta have lived here and prospered. It is a confluence of four Ks, representing 4 corners of India and therefore rightly a MAHANAGAR.
If Vandey Maataram has become a victim of one kind of pettiness, happenings in Mumbai represented a nadir of another kind of pettiness. Just for taking oath in Hindi, which is our national language, if one can be beaten on the floor of a legislative body, something is very seriously wrong in the body politic of India. Those who are responsible should be booked under privilege rule and should be severely dealt with. The MNS (Maharashtra Nava Nirman Sena) which opened account in the Maharashtra assembly at the cost of Shiv Sena may have reasons to celebrate, but creating havoc is to prove that your methods are, same outside on the street or inside the legislative assembly hall. This has to be checked in all seriousness. Decades ago it was the Chaacha (Bal Thackary) and his Shiv Sena, now its Bhateeja (Raj Thackery) and his MNS. Ostensibly both represent Marathi Manoos. Their one-up-manship to outsmart one-another has left many Maharashtrians disillusioned. This disillusionment is sure to reflect in the electoral fortunes of both SS and MNS in coming days. As such SS is already losing, but their loss has not been exactly the gain of MNS, although both are working for cross purposes. SS lost 16 seats and MNS got 13 seats. Chances are MNS may not go very far. But SS may continue to slide. Under the circumstances for the ageing Bal Thackray to pick on Sachin Tendulkar and continue to harp on Marathi manoos with the sole intention of hurting the reputation of Sachin Tendulkar may really come to a naught. A fact Bal Thackray may realise when it is little late. But the damage to his ‘Marathi manoos’ credibility is already done and cannot be undone. When shall Indian politicians have sense of proportion and learn quickly to unlearn the timeworn baggage they are carrying?
uld wonder why this Bangalore episode here! Actually the title for the present article was initially coined as 'Vandey Maataram and Marathi Manoos'. Of course without any derogatory implication as one could perceive. It was felt that with the kind of a portion of the crowd, who would go berserk at the drop of a hat, wisdom took the better of the impulse. Hence Mahanagar of Nikhil Wagle (another bold Marathi mouth piece) became the alternative.Coming to the issue of Vandey Maataram, it can be safely said, that it was extremely untimely and unnecessary for the Deobund outfit to rake it up, although, post Sri Sri Ravishankar intervention they toned down their rhetoric to make it sound as voluntary and left it to individuals. The controversy surrounding this national song is, as long, as it was written in late 19th century. Although the lofty intention of its writer-Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and published in his classic inspirational novel ‘AnandaMatha’-was to inspire and stir the emotions of young educated Indians to rise against the tyrannical colonial rulers of those days. Its singing initially had no problem. It was sung for the first time in 1896 Congress session. However it was only in Sept. 1905 it became a kind of a national war cry of freedom. To celebrate the centenary of the event, the then HRD minister Arjun singh in Sept 2005 issued an order to all state governments that all schools should sing Vandey Matharam on the 7th Sept. to mark the remembrance of the occasion. Of course the order was suitably amended to make it voluntary to appease the sentiments of those who opposed its singing, citing religious reasons. But quite frankly what is there in the song to oppose the singing. One writer by name A Faizur Rehaman, even wrote that there were reference to Goddess Durga and Godess Kali and therefore it is against the tenets of Islam. But then, capitulating to the pressure of Islamic opposition in 1923, the song was truncated to 2 stanzas from the original 5 stanzas. The following translated text shall show very clearly its meaning and spirit. (See Box).
From the above it is very clear that the author is deeply in love with his motherland, which he calls as his mother. The translation informs the reader, the descriptive beauty of author’s vision of the mother. And the beauty is, there is no mention of India in the entire truncated 2 stanzas, hence it could be for any country. So on the face of it, nobody, I mean nobody, shall have any objection to its singing. How does it become sacrilege-monotheist or otherwise?
What is sad is the dirty politics by interested political parties to yield to sectarian pressure not to sing the song. Even the then Loksabha Speaker Somanath Chatterji, who should be above any party affiliations, reportedly refused permission to BJP to sing Vandey Maatharam before Mahatma's Statue in Parliament. This refusal is insulting to both the song and the Mahatma, who was instrumental in introducing the practice of singing this in public and in Congress Party meetings. Thus it is indeed very difficult to really understand the politics behind such actions. Besides, when the Congress government wanted to celebrate the 100th year, nobody, either from Delhi or from Writers Building in Kolkatta, thought of its author, and the Bankim Bhavan, the ancestral house and birth place of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee at Naihati in North 24 Paraganas had no visitor nor any arrangement to celebrate the event due to the LEFT politics. This is our commitment to the history. So how would our school children remember such great souls?
Thus whenever it suited, Congress made it as a national song and played to the gallery as the situation warranted due to one-track-mind of a section of muslim society. And communists like Somanath Chattertjee rubbed it on BJP with the usual assumption that all actions of BJP are always communal. Unfortunately even media is such a divided house, that they generally look for negatives rather than positives.
The recent fatwa by Darul Uloom was not only uncalled for, it also shows the complete insensitivity of this seminary in dealing with an issue of sensitivity. It is the assertiveness of such organisations that really caused the rupture in the even paced life in India, due to the vote bank politics of certain political parties. One fails to understand what can possibly be wrong with singing paens to motherland, recalling its glory. Yes, as somebody observed in the media "Indian Muslims(some of them) took meaningless umbrage in some imaginary sacrilege against Islam and generations of Muslims closed their minds to this venerated song". Unfortunately it was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress President who played little crooked by not attending the 7th September 2006 function organised by the Congress Seva Dal! Were they pandering to the whims of the section opposed to the singing? What kind of a signal these two most senior functionaries of Congress were giving to Indians in general? And more often than not, media plays up to agenda based negative tendencies. Like one news paper had the headline "VANDE MAATARAM REMAINS OUT OF TUNE WITH ISLAM", in the front page in capital letters, but the same news paper had nothing to say, when some liberal muslim groups in Bhopal issued a statement saying that they have no problem in singing ‘Vandey Maataram’. Media must necessarily, not only publish such accommodative spirits but also highlight such groups to help emerge as alternative forces within the community, in the larger interest of the country.
In fact some years ago, it was Shaista Ambar, a member of All India Muslim Women’s Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB), had gone on record saying "There should be no objection in singing the song written in the praise of motherland. We love our country and we support the rendition of the song". Here it is very pertinent to note that this very news paper had relegated an important news during this raging controversy into the 7th page in an obscure corner, as if it is just another news.
"Shia board wants Vande Mataram in Urdu", is a significant news deserved to be printed better and placed in the front page for its very relevance. The statement "A worthless debate is being carried out on the issue which is communally sensitive. Muslims should be told about the real meaning and spirit of Vande Mataram" from Maulana Abbas, the spokesman o
f All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) is a positive development which should grab the limelight. Writing to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, with a copy to the President Pratibha Patil, the president of AISPLB, Maulana Mirza Mohd.Athar, 'asked the centre to get the national song translated into Urdu to help the community understand the real meaning and spirit of the song so that the controversy around the singing is eliminated, especially when some oppose and some favour singing Vande Maataram'. Now, doesn’t this piece of news deserve to be treated in all seriousness for the emotional health of the nation? Why are some members of the 4th estate like to portray always the negative, when positive aspects are not far to seek?Then there was this remark by Salman Khurshid, a practicing Muslim and a Union minister, "Fatwa against Vande Mataram unacceptable", published by the same news paper on page 11. Talking to Karan Thapar on the Devil’s Advocate programme in the CNN/IBN, Salman Khurshid reportedly stated "The resolution is unacceptable. It is counter productive. It is not good for our society and our country. It is not good for Muslims!!" Why are our media friends being ostrich like? Or are some of them having a programme or agenda of keeping the society divided on communal lines? In this context what is amazing is, the whole of the media and the nation forgot that in 1997, 14th Aug. midnight session of parliament witnessed another historic event where Vandey Maataram was taken to a new height of melody and presentation as never before. Allah Rakha Rehman, a muslim faithful, known to the audible world as AR Rehman sang Vandey Maataram in his own inimitable style. Sheila Bajpai wrote in the print media on 15th Aug 1997, that "AR Rehman singing ‘Maa Thuje Salaam’ made your heart beat for India on the night of Aug. 14, 1997." "Indeed this song, more than anything else, was television’s most moving tribute to India’s 50th year of Independence", she added. Yes, why does the Muslim clergy and therefore their followers have to complain when it only means MAA TUJHE SALAAM? Indeed this clergy and their followers need only to look at this internationally acclaimed Indian music icon to find inspiration.
Coming to Mahanagar of Nikhil Wagle or other way round since Nikhil Wagle is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Lokmat-a CNN/IBN Marathi Channel, Bombay or Mumbai has become a stage for competitive one-up-manship between Chaacha Bhateeja of Maharashtra politics. Mahanagar also means ‘great city’, which Bombay or Mumbai is. Mumbai is the commercial capital of India. Mumbai is the celluloid capital of India. Mumbai is miniature India, with people from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari & fr
om Kutch to Kolkatta have lived here and prospered. It is a confluence of four Ks, representing 4 corners of India and therefore rightly a MAHANAGAR.If Vandey Maataram has become a victim of one kind of pettiness, happenings in Mumbai represented a nadir of another kind of pettiness. Just for taking oath in Hindi, which is our national language, if one can be beaten on the floor of a legislative body, something is very seriously wrong in the body politic of India. Those who are responsible should be booked under privilege rule and should be severely dealt with. The MNS (Maharashtra Nava Nirman Sena) which opened account in the Maharashtra assembly at the cost of Shiv Sena may have reasons to celebrate, but creating havoc is to prove that your methods are, same outside on the street or inside the legislative assembly hall. This has to be checked in all seriousness. Decades ago it was the Chaacha (Bal Thackary) and his Shiv Sena, now its Bhateeja (Raj Thackery) and his MNS. Ostensibly both represent Marathi Manoos. Their one-up-manship to outsmart one-another has left many Maharashtrians disillusioned. This disillusionment is sure to reflect in the electoral fortunes of both SS and MNS in coming days. As such SS is already losing, but their loss has not been exactly the gain of MNS, although both are working for cross purposes. SS lost 16 seats and MNS got 13 seats. Chances are MNS may not go very far. But SS may continue to slide. Under the circumstances for the ageing Bal Thackray to pick on Sachin Tendulkar and continue to harp on Marathi manoos with the sole intention of hurting the reputation of Sachin Tendulkar may really come to a naught. A fact Bal Thackray may realise when it is little late. But the damage to his ‘Marathi manoos’ credibility is already done and cannot be undone. When shall Indian politicians have sense of proportion and learn quickly to unlearn the timeworn baggage they are carrying?
I&C Feature
Comments