It does not take vouchsafing from historians though they have in fact done so if that is any consolation to those susceptible to paranoia that Vande Mataram recital is not loaded with communal import. Muslim leaders, who play politics just like BJP leaders and who do not have monolithic Muslim support for their declarations, do this country and their community a disservice by making political football of every possible issue.

This is not to say that words and actions have fixed and unchanging meanings and that they must always be interpreted the same way. It is mischievous on UP Chief Minister Kalyan Singh's part to talk ofmaking Vande Mataram recital compulsory in schools. As the Chief Minister of a state rather than of a community he would have done better to consider all sensibilities. For the fact that he has had indirectly to be ticked off by Home Minister Advani he deserves no sympathy.

That said, there are several good reasons why Muslim leaders are wrong to bite the bait every single time. First, Kalyan Singh's declaration, made by any non-parivar politician, would scarcely have ruffled feathers. That means that such an act is not by itself provocative; it becomes so only by association with the BJP. Dignity and maturity lie in ignoring foolish and irrelevant provocations.

No Muslim child would become less Muslim by virtue of having to sing Vande Mataram at school. Second, needless touchiness is the best way to oblige those Hindu communalists whose very purpose it is to irk them every step of the way and create and then exploit these cleavages. Third, this religious hyper-sensitivity is grist to the mill for thosewho are pre-disposed to believe that the minorities in this country put their religion before their patriotism. Fourth, crying wolf means that the tendency to dismiss even a genuine grouse becomes greater. If this is not in fact needless religious insecurity, then Muslim leaders are returning Kalyan Singh's cheap politics with their own brand of cheap politics. Yet what sort of clever politics is it that gives satisfaction to an opponent who provokes with purpose?

If this sounds like undue sympathy for the UP government, it is not. Kalyan Singh's announcement, even if not made with intent to provoke, was sure to do so and he knew it. This is reprehensible and it is to be hoped that his party's national leadership will rein him in. Yet there can be no clapping with one hand. If only the self-appointed leaders of Muslims in this country chose to be politically mature, Singh and his ilk might be less disposed to create a ``controversy'' where none existed. Unfortunately, their present reaction is only anincentive for this vicious circle to perpetuate itself.

A Hindu ``leader'' provokes, the Muslim leadership reacts, tempers rise all round. In the best case scenario, a climbdown follows, forced from the top BJP leadership. The worst-case scenario is too troubling to envisage.