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The song and dance over Vande Mataram

New Delhi: Almost since the time it was adopted as the national song, Vande Mataram has been associated as much with politics as with patriotism, striking uncomfortable communal chords. The controversy generated by the fatwa issued against the singing of the national song by the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e- Hind on ....Read more

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Vande mataramBy: S.L.J.Gallyot | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 13:38:54 PM Reply | Forward It is high time Indians stop equating Hinduism with Nationalism and Patriotism.Indians of different faiths are patriotic , but dont wear their patriotism on their sleaves. Why should the majority community( a minority of this majority) force their beliefs on others. It is right wing politicians who do this for the purpose of votes. Some faiths prohibit worship of any other entity than God, and it is these faiths that feel the heat when ignorant persons start equating non observance as un patriotic. We love our land, our parents, wives and kids ,but worship only God.

Some faiths prohibit worship of any other entity than GodBy: N.V.SANKARAN | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 20:06:19 PM Reply | Forward God(or Allah) is only a concept, father is a belief and mother is the truth. It is strange that some people are averse to worshiping truth in favour of a concept. In fact there is only a very thin line separating worship and paying respect. When the Hindus prostrate in front of their mother, father, teacher and elders, they are not worshiping them, but only demonstrating their love and respect towards their mother, father, teacher and the elders.And when you are saluting the nation by reciting the national anthem or national song, you are only paying your respect to your nation and not worshiping the country. It is because of the wrong perception of some of the clergies of other faiths that they fear that when they sing the national song, they are worshiping the Hindu gods or goddesses.

chant, chant, chant By: B.V.SHENOY | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 13:08:37 PM Reply | Forward Vande Matharam cannot be sung by Muslims, jana gana mana... was written by Gurudev Tagore in praise of visiting British emperor in 1911, which in effect doesn't glorify the motherland. Therefore, to be fair to all, both these "anthems" should be scrapped from the constitution by an amendment. In their place, the following couplet ( thoughtfully and reverentially coined by me) can be adopted as a mantra, chant or whatever: Vande Sonia, Vande Sonia Vande Rahul Vande Rahul (or Priyanka) This chant should be repeated 108 times or 22 times at five fixed periods daily. Students can be given additional marks for this in their annual exams. This should also be made compulsory at all rallies, meetings and also in cinema halls. The country will transform itself into a heaven.

The song and dance over Vande MataramBy: Ibrahim | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 12:56:58 PM Reply | Forward I dont think we have to give much importance to Vande Mataram as it is a national song not national anthem. Supreme Court also have the same opinion that it is not compulsory to sing Vande mataram if it hurts religious sentiments of Muslims, Christians,Sikhs and Parsis. Better to respect and sing the National Anthem Ja Na Ga Na Ma Na.......

Learn from lankan muslimsBy: Indian | Friday , 13 Nov '09 11:55:46 AM Reply | Forward National song has been granted equal status as our national anthem.Also jana gana mana was written about british king & queen & not about our nation.Its hight time government should scrap it as national anthem.vandemataram has contributed richly towards the freedom struggle.Hence no one should have any objection about singing it.Its time Indian muslims stop wagging there tail & learn from lankan muslims

national song not national anthemBy: N.V.SANKARAN | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 20:11:56 PM Reply | Forward What difference does it make? If it is not necessary to sing the national song for demonstrating your patriotism, the same thing applies to national anthem. Booth are used to pay respects to your nation.

The word Hindu also hurt the feelings of MuslimsBy: YD | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 12:44:47 PM Reply | Forward After reading this article it has become clear that nothing can move without the permission of Muslims in India and Muslims are not prepare to give permission for anything in India. Was Aurangzeb's rule this bad ?

I fully agree with Ratan Gupta view!By: Murtuza Moosavi | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 12:44:23 PM Reply | Forward We have other issue like un-employment. Why RSS, BJP or Shiv Sena not think for these why only hanging for Vadamateram, how Marthai, Bengali, This is all rubbish only think for Sara-e Jahan say Acha Hindustan Hamara... Jai Hind.... Murtuza Moosavi

Vande matharam and muslim fatwaBy: N.V.SANKARAN | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 12:36:12 PM Reply | Forward This fatwa and the general attitude of a section of the Muslims shows that for them, religion is more important than the country. National song is only a salutation to the country and has nothing to do with worshiping Hindu goddesses. Everybody refers to their nation as "motherland" and I think mother has a female form. So, if one saluting the nation in the form of Bharatmata, where is the danger for one's religion? Those who refuse to sing the song which was once adopted not only by Hindus, but by all patriotic Indians except some clergies, are placing religion above the nation which is really ominous to the unity and integrity of the country. Even the Pakistanis had a Hindu lineage before they converted to Islam. If the Muslims put religion above nation, what guarantee is there that one day they will not align themselves with their Muslim brethren in Pakistan or other Islamic nations and would not turn against the Hindu majority Hindusthan?

Vande MatramBy: surjeet | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 12:29:09 PM Reply | Forward Maa tujhe Salam; we could greet each other with this word Salam, we could also say Salam to our land. These are the occasions when we could prove to be one amongst many other occasions when we show we respect each others views. India, National Songs,and we must also come to some more such conclusions where we could say we all are ONE. Regretfully, whenever there is a time of test, we fail to grab the opportunity. Partition happerned because of perceieved dissimilarities. That is over. Now is the time when we should only talk about unity when these rare occasions come up; sadly enough there are not many!

The song and dance over Vande MataramBy: Ratan Gupta | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 11:03:01 AM Reply | Forward I think some us have misunderstanding of nationalism. Hinsuism is not Indiansim. India is different and Hindusim is different. We should avoid pushing Vandemataram since we have a much better national anthem like sare jehan se acha hindustan humara. Anytime better and simple to understand. Above all, we have officially 2 million children are dying in India because of malnutrition which is a world record. Diabetes and depressen is another world record we have. AIDS, we will break that record very soon. We have 700 million people below poverty line, that is another world record. Those criminals who wanted to engage in such filthy and irrelevant discussions as passion and passtime must understand one thing, India is sick of you people. True nationalism is to remove the disparity in the society. 100 thousand Indians have taken control of 90% of India while some fools have time to discuss and argue on the issue of Vandemataram. Ho.

natinal anthem like sare jahan se acha???By: Indian | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 13:08:19 PM Reply | Forward national anthem like sare jahan se acha ????New general knowledge???

The song and dance over Vande MataramBy: Khatib | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 12:42:17 PM Reply | Forward I agree, we need more Ratan Guptas in India to compete with world specially chine and pak

All Indians are my brothers and sisters.By: Favaz Abdu Salam | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 12:41:27 PM Reply | Forward Excellent. I agree with you. Its high time people realize that we have more important things to do to improve our society than wasting time on these silly issues which won't contribute even a bit for the development of our society and country as a whole. If we need to move to the future its better we stop these stupid arguments and do contribute some things useful to our beloved mother land. An let us show the world with true spirit what we mean by 'all Indians are my brothers and sisters'. With love to all.

Leaders could have left their brains for the leaders of Now!1By: V.Chakravarthy | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 10:54:13 AM Reply | Forward Leaders (True and Patriotic) Like Gandhiji, Nehruji, Azadji, Tagore, Bose and many others who fought for the freedom of India, couldn't anticipate their future generation's mindset. They could have donated their brains and heart to whoever needs them. I am sure the organs would have been corrupted.

Why compare Gandhiji with othersBy: Khatib | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 12:43:04 PM Reply | Forward Dont include Gandhiji

BAN THE 'VANDE MAATHARAM'By: DR.PETROL PUMP CHOR | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 10:53:33 AM Reply | Forward It is ideal to ban Vande Matharam. It does not represent the feeling of all sections but only of the majority. We minority feel hurt of the unjust stanzas.

Go to pakistanBy: Swanand | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 11:21:35 AM Reply | Forward Yea yea. feelings are there for only minorities. When MF Hussain like somebody does against majority it is freedom of art. If you are part of a secular society you should be first and Indian and then of your religion. If cant bow down before India and do not behave like Indian-first, go to hell(Pakistan) and exerciseyour freedom of art, sentiments and all. Eating Indian food and not becoing part of indian culture is not going to be tolerated

Minority ot mejoroty who youBy: Minority | Thursday , 12 Nov '09 12:43:54 PM Reply | Forward Pakistan may be hell but why should we go you go

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