Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday announced that singing the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ will be made compulsory in all schools and educational institutions across the state. Addressing an ‘Ekta Yatra’ event in Gorakhpur, Adityanath asserted this move would help in instilling a sense of national pride, respect, and unity among citizens.
“There should be a sense of respect for the national song Vande Mataram. We will make its singing compulsory in every school and educational institution of Uttar Pradesh,” Adityanath said. He added that reciting the song with pride and gratitude will help strengthen the motherland and honour Bharat Mata.
“Prevent the rise of new Jinnahs”
The Chief Minister then went on to relate the move to guarding India’s integrity, cautioning that “we must identify elements that divide in the name of caste, region, language, and prevent the rise of new Jinnahs.” He underlined the importance of ensuring no individual or ideology undermines national unity.
The announcement came today as part of a political spat over recent remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the dropping of some stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ in 1937. Modi had suggested such decisions due to a “divisive mindset” led to the seeds of partition. The Congress party has sought an apology, claiming the remarks of the Prime Minister insulted the 1937 Congress Working Committee and Rabindranath Tagore, who advised on the song.
The new order by the UP government will make singing Vande Mataram compulsory in the classroom, marking a new shift to embed national pride and unity into the state’s educational curriculum.
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Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
