“This decision has not been made by the cabinet, nor has the education minister signed off on it. We should decide what happens in our schools without outside dictation on these matters,” Omar told reporters.
Photo: SNS
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said that his ministry had not taken any decision regarding the celebration of 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’ in schools. In contrast, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha participated in a commemorative event organised by the Department of Culture and paid tributes to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who had composed the National Song.
While campaigning for the ruling National Conference (NC) candidate for the Assembly by-election on the Budgam seat, Omar told reporters that he did not authorise the celebration of the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’ in schools, saying there should be no outside dictation on such matters and no interference in governing the Union Territory.
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“This decision has not been made by the cabinet, nor has the education minister signed off on it. We should decide what happens in our schools without outside dictation on these matters,” Omar told reporters.
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In an order on 30 October, the culture department had asked schools across Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’.
This order faced strong backlash from the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), an alliance of several religious organisations in J&K, which demanded its immediate withdrawal, terming it a “coercive order”, arguing that parts of the song contradicted Islamic beliefs regarding monotheism.
Meanwhile, paying tributes to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, LG Sinha visited the exhibition on the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’. He said, “Rishi Bankim Chandra had strengthened the bond between Maa Bharti and her sons and inspired people to secure independence.”
“Our commitment and dedication to the motherland will take our nation to its destiny of a Viksit Bharat. The young generation must remember that they are inheritors of this great civilisation and their contribution to the progress and prosperity of society will be a fitting tribute to Maa Bharti,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
“The year 2025 marks 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’, our National Song, which was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and was written during the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Navami, which was on 7 November in 1875, he said.
The LG said ‘Vande Mataram’ first appeared in the literary journal Bangadarshan as part of his novel Anandamath. The song, invoking the Motherland as the embodiment of strength, prosperity, and divinity, gave poetic expression to India’s awakening spirit of unity and self-respect. It soon became an enduring symbol of devotion to the nation. The celebrations witnessed mass singing of the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ with the participation of citizens across all segments of society.
MPs Jugal Kishore Sharma and Gulam Ali Khatana; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; and Principal Secretary, Home, Chandraker Bharti were among those who participated in the event.
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