The Hindu Business Line : <I>Vande Mataram! </I>

The penchant for India's political class to make mountains of molehills is once again evident in the controversy over the singing of the Vande Mataram on September 7, marking the centenary of its composition by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. In itself it is a lovely song, enchanting in the magical imagery and stirring the very depths of the soul of every Indian as a tribute to the many splendours of Mother India.

No wonder, stalwarts of the freedom movement made it the rallying cry to challenge the British Empire. Many a patriot faced British bullets or mounted the gallows with Vande Mataram on his lips. Indeed, the average British official, from the Viceroy downwards, could not simply bear the clarion call of Vande Mataram, and freedom fighters were arrested and thrown into prison for singing it in public.

It is but fitting that a nation whose enjoyment of the fruits of freedom can be directly traced to the song should show its gratitude by singing it on its 100th anniversary. But in all such situations, there are political busybodies who create problems for themselves and others by going overboard and vitiating the atmosphere. Making the singing compulsory, as the State Governments under the BJP have done, will completely destroy the nobility of spirit with which the song is imbued. Thanks to their short-sightedness, an occasion that should be redolent of memories of great sacrifices and high achievements is degenerating into a communal divide.

The stand that the Human Resource Development Minister, Dr Arjun Singh, has taken in leaving the whole matter to the voluntary compliance of the persons concerned is entirely correct. In fact, the BJP leaders, Messrs L. K. Advani and A. B. Vajpayee, had in the past taken a similar stand. If a person is forced against his will to subscribe to something, however desirable, it is robbed of grace and leaves a trail of bitterness. This is what BJP votaries must understand.

B. S. RAGHAVAN