Fatwa, Vande Mataram, Anandamath, Sanyasi Vidroh, Bankim, Tagore and Patiotism

Fatwa, Vande Mataram, Anandamath, Sanyasi Vidroh, Bankim, Tagore and Patiotism

Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time- Two Hundred Four

Palash Biswas

http://indianholocaustmyfatherslifeandtime.blogspot.com/

Vande Mataram from Bankim Chandra Chattopadyaya's "Anand Mutt" remains the classic Indian national song. This song was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and the Music Director was Hemant Kumar Mukhopadyaya...

Vande Mataram (Sanskrit: वन्दे मातरम् Vande Mātaram, Bengali: বন্দে মাতরম Bônde Matorom; English translation: Bow to Mother.) is the national song of India[1], distinct from the national anthem of India "Jana Gana Mana". The song was composed by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay in a mixture of Bengali and Sanskrit.[2] and the first political occasion where it was sung was the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress[1].

In 2003, ‏BBC World Service conducted an international poll to choose ten most famous songs of all time. Around 7000 songs were selected from all over the world. According to BBC, people from 155 countries/island voted. Vande Mataram was ranked second in the top ten songs. [3]

However, many muslim organizations in India have declared fatwas against singing Vande Mataram, due to the song giving a notion of worshipping Mother India, which is unislamic[4].

History and significance

It is generally believed that the concept of Vande Mataram came to Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay when he was still a government official under the British Raj. Around 1870, the British rulers of India had declared that singing of God Save the Queen would be mandatory.[2] He wrote it in a spontaneous session using words from two languages he was expert in, Sanskrit and Bengali. However, the song was initially highly criticized for the difficulty in pronunciation of some of the words.[2] The song first appeared in Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay's book Anandamatha (pronounced Anondomôţh in Bengali), published in 1882 amid fears of a ban by British Raj. However, the song itself was actually written in 1876.[2] Jadunath Bhattacharya set the tune for this song just after it was written.[2]

"Vande Mataram" was the national cry for freedom from British rule during the freedom movement. Large rallies, fermenting initially in Bengal, in the major metropolis of Calcutta, would work themselves up into a patriotic fervour by shouting the slogan "Vande Mataram", or "Hail to the Mother(land)!". The British, fearful of the potential danger of an incited Indian populace, at one point banned the utterance of the motto in public forums, and imprisoned many freedom fighters for disobeying the proscription. Rabindranath Tagore sang Vande Mataram in 1896 at the Calcutta Congress Session held at Beadon Square. Dakhina Charan Sen sang it five years later in 1901 at another session of the Congress at Calcutta. Poet Sarala Devi Chaudurani sang the song in the Benares Congress Session in 1905. Lala Lajpat Rai started a journal called Vande Mataram from Lahore.[2] Hiralal Sen made India's first political film in 1905 which ended with the chant. Matangini Hazra's last words as she was shot to death by the Crown police were Vande Mataram[5]

In 1907, Bhikaiji Cama (1861-1936) created the first version of India's national flag (the Tiranga) in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1907. It had Vande Mataram written on it in the middle band.[6]

A number of lyrical and musical experiments have been carried out, and many versions of the song were created and released throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century. Many of these versions have employed traditional South Asian classical ragas. Versions of the song have been visualized on celluloid in a number of films, including Leader, Amar Asha, and Anandamath. It is widely believed that the tune set for All India Radio station version was composed by Ravi Shankar.[2]
[edit] Controversy

Jana Gana Mana was chosen as the National Anthem of independent India. Vande Mataram was rejected on the grounds that Muslims opposed idol worship felt offended by its depiction of the nation as "Mother Durga"—a Hindu goddess. Muslims also felt that its origin as part of Anandamatha, a novel they felt had an anti-Muslim message (see External links below).

In 1937, the Indian National Congress discussed at length the status of the song. It was pointed out then that though the first two stanzas began with an unexceptionable evocation of the beauty of the motherland, in later stanzas there are references where the motherland is likened to the Hindu goddess Durga. Therefore, the Congress decided to adopt only the first two stanzas as the national song. To this day the national songs of India consists of only these first two stanzas of Vande Mataram, along with the national anthem Jana gana mana and Saare Jahan Se accha.
[edit] Rabindranath Tagore on Vande Mataram

"Vande Mataram! These are the magic words which will open the door of his iron safe, break through the walls of his strong room, and confound the hearts of those who are disloyal to its call to say Vande Mataram." (Rabindranath Tagore in Glorious Thoughts of Tagore, p.165)

The controversy becomes more complex in the light of Rabindranath Tagore's rejection of the song as one that would unite all communities in India. In his letter to Subhash Chandra Bose (1937), Rabindranath wrote:

"The core of Vande Mataram is a hymn to Bharat Mata( Mother India): this is so plain that there can be no debate about it. Of course Bankimchandra does show Durga to be inseparably united with Bengal in the end, but no Mussulman [Muslim], christians and Arya Samajis can be expected patriotically to worship the ten-handed deity as 'Swadesh' [the nation]. This year many of the special [Durga] Puja numbers of our magazines have quoted verses from Vande Mataram - proof that the editors take the song to be a hymn to Durga. The novel Anandamath is a work of literature, and so the song is appropriate in it. But Parliament is a place of union for all religious groups, and there the song cannot be appropriate. When Bengali Mussulmans show signs of stubborn fanaticism, we regard these as intolerable. When we too copy them and make unreasonable demands, it will be self-defeating."

In a postscript to this same letter, Rabindranath says:

"Bengali Hindus have become agitated over this matter, but it does not concern only Hindus. Since there are strong feelings on both sides, a balanced judgment is essential. In pursuit of our political aims we want peace, unity and good will - we do not want the endless tug of war that comes from supporting the demands of one faction over the other." [7]

In the last decade, Vande Mataram has been used as a rallying cry by Hindu nationalists in India, who have challenged the status of the current national anthem by Rabindranath.
[edit] Dr. Rajendra Prasad on Vande Mataram

Dr.Rajendra Prasad, who was presiding the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950, made the following statement which was also adopted as the final decision on the issue:
The composition consisting of words and music known as Jana Gana Mana is the National Anthem of India, subject to such alterations as the Government may authorise as occasion arises, and the song Vande Mataram, which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honored equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it. (Applause) I hope this will satisfy members. (Constituent Assembly of India, Vol. XII, 24-1-1950)
[edit] Controversy in 2006

On August 22, 2006, there was a row in the Lok Sabha of the Indian Parliament over whether singing of Vande Mataram in schools should be made mandatory. The ruling coalition (UPA) and Opposition members debated the Government's stance that singing the national song Vande Mataram on September 7, 2006, to mark the 125th year celebration of its creation should be voluntary. This led to the House being adjourned twice. Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh noted that it was not binding on citizens to sing the song. Arjun Singh had earlier asked all state governments to ensure that the first two stanzas of the song were sung in all schools on that day. BJP Deputy Leader V. K. Malhotra wanted the Government to clarify whether singing the national song on September 7 in schools was mandatory or not. On August 28, targeting the BJP, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said that in 1998 when Atal Behari Vajpayee of the BJP was the Prime Minister, the BJP supported a similar circular issued by the Uttar Pradesh government to make the recitation compulsory. But Vajpayee had then clarified that it was not necessary to make it compulsory.[8]

On September 7, 2006, the nation celebrated the national song. Television channels showed school children singing the song at the notified time.[9] Some Muslim groups had discouraged parents from sending their wards to school on the grounds, after the BJP had repeatedly insisted that the national song must be sung. However, many Muslims did participate in the celebrations[9].
[edit] Support for Vande Mataram
[edit] Muslim institutions and Vande Mataram

Though a number of Muslim organizations and individuals have opposed Vande Mataram being used as a "national song" of India, citing many religious reasons, some Muslim personalities have admired and even praised Vande Mataram as the "National Song of India" . Arif Mohammed Khan, a former member of parliament for the Bharatiya Janata Party, wrote an Urdu translation of Vande Mataram which starts as Tasleemat, maan tasleemat.[10] In 2006, amidst the controversy of whether singing of the song in schools should be mandatory or optional, no Indian Muslims did show support for singing the song.[9]

All India Sunni Ulema Board on Sept 6, 2006, issued a fatwa that the Muslims can sing the first two verses of the song. The Board president Moulana Mufti Syed Shah Badruddin Qadri Aljeelani said that "If you bow at the feet of your mother with respect, it is not shirk but only respect."[11] Shia scholar and All India Muslim Personal Law Board vice-president Maulana Kalbe Sadiq stated on Sept 5, 2006 that scholars need to examine the term "vande." He asked, "Does it mean salutation or worship?"[12]

Jamait-e-Ulema Hind on November 3, 2009, issued a fatwa against singing the national song, Vande Mataram, and declared that Muslims should not sing it as its reciting is against Islam [13].
[edit] Sikh institutions and Vande Mataram

Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee or SGPC, the paramount representative body in the Sikh Panth, requested the Sikhs to not sing "Vande Mataram" in the schools and institutions on its centenary on Sept 7, 2006[14]. SGPC head, Avtar Singh Makkar, expressed concern that "imposing a song that reflected just one religion was bound to hurt the sentiments of the Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and other religious minorities. The DSGMC (Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee) has called singing of "Vande Mataram" against Sikh tenents[15] as the Sikhs sought "sarbat da bhala" (universal welfare) and did not believe in "devi and devta"[16]. DSGMC head H. S. Sarna also added that the song "Vande Mataram" had been rejected long by well known freedom fighter Sikhs like Baba Kharak Singh and Master Tara Singh[17].
[edit] Christian institutions and Vande Mataram

Fr. Cyprian Kullu from Jharkhand stated in an interview with AsiaNews: "The song is a part of our history and national festivity and religion should not be dragged into such mundane things. The 'Vande Mataram' is simply a national song without any connotation that could violate the tenets of any religion. But everyone has his own perception, tending to interpret any social-cultural events in terms of religion, which could harm social harmony and co-existence."[18] However, some Christian institutions such as Our Lady of Fatima Convent School in Patiala did not sing the song on its 100th anniversary as mandated by the state. [19]
[edit] Popularity

BBC World Service conducted an international poll In 2003, to choose ten most famous songs of all time. Around 7000 songs were selected from all over the world. According to BBC, people from around the world voted Vande mataram was Second in top 10 songs[20]
[edit] Text of Vande Mataram
[edit] Version adopted by Congress, 1905

In Devanagari script
वन्दे मातरम्
सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्
शस्यश्यामलां मातरम् |
शुभ्र ज्योत्स्ना पुलकित यामिनीम्
फुल्ल कुसुमित ध्रुमदलशोभिनीम्,
सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीम्
सुखदां वरदां मातरम् ||

In Bengali script
বন্দে মাতরম্
সুজলাং সুফলাং মলযজশীতলাম্
শস্য শ্যামলাং মাতরম্ |
শুভ্র জ্যোৎস্না পুলকিত যামিনীম্
ফুল্ল কুসুমিত দ্রুমদলশোভিনীম্,
সুহাসিনীং সুমধুর ভাষিণীম্
সুখদাং বরদাং মাতরম্ ||

Devanagari transliteration
vande mātaram
sujalāṃ suphalāṃ malayajaśītalām
śasya śyāmalāṃ mātaram
śubhra jyotsnā pulakita yāminīm
phulla kusumita drumadalaśobhinīm
suhāsinīṃ sumadhura bhāṣiṇīm
sukhadāṃ varadāṃ mātaram

Bengali Romanization
bônde matorom
shujolang shufolang môloeôjoshitolam
shoshsho shêmolang matorom
shubhro jotsna pulokito jaminim
fullo kushumito drumodôloshobhinim
shuhashining shumodhuro bhashinim
shukhodang bôrodang matorom

[edit] Translation

Several English translations of Vande Mataram have been made.[21]

Here is a translation[by whom?] of the part that has been adopted as India's National song:

Vande Mataram
sujalaam
suphalaam
malayaja sheethalam
shashya shyamalaam
Maataram, vande maataram
Shubhra jothsana pulakitha yaminim
Phulla kusumitat drumah dala shobhinim
Suhasinim, Sumadhura bhAshinim
sukhadaam varadhaam, maataram
Vande mataraam

My obeisance to Mother India!
With flowing beneficial waters
Filled with choicest fruits
With cooling breeze
Green with the harvest
O mother! My obeisance to you!
Ecstatic moonlit nights
The plants blooming with flowers
Sweet speaker of sweet languages
Fount of blessings,
Mother, I salute you!

Following is Sri Aurobindo's translation of the original Vande Mataram (verses 1, 3, 4, 6):[21]

Vande Mataram
Sujalam Suphalam
Malayaja Seetalam
Sasya Shamalaam Mataram
Vande Mataram

Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.

Shubra Jyotsnaa
Pulakita Yaminim
Pullakusumita
Drumadala Shobhinim
Subhashinim
Sumadhura Bhashinim
Sukhadaam Varadaam
Mataram
Vande Mataram

Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.

Sapta Ko Ti Kan Tha
Kalakalaninaada
Karale Dwisapta Ko Ti Bhujai
Rdhr^Itakhara Karavaale
Abalaa Keno Maa Eto Bale
Bahubhaladharinim
Namaami Taarinim
Ripudala Varinim
Mataram
Vande Mataram

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Thou who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.

Tumi Vidyaa, Tumi Dharmaa
Tumi Hridi, Tumi Marma
Tum Hi Pranaah Shariire
Bahute Tumi Maa Shakti
Hridaya Tumi Maa Bhakti
Tomaraa I Pratimaa Gadi
Mandire Mandire

Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Thou art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nerves the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.

Tvam Hi Durgaa
Dasha Prahara Nadhaarini
Kamala Kamaladala Viharini
Vani Vidhyadayini Namaami Tvam
Namaami Kamalaam,
Amalaam, Atulaam
Sujalaam Suphalaam Mataram
Vande Mataram

Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleams,
Dark of hue O candid-fair

Shyamalaam Saralaam
Susmitaam Bhuushitaam
Dharanim Bharanim
Mataram
Vande Mataram

In thy soul, with jeweled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Loveliest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!

Should the singing of Vande Mataram be made compulsory?

The recent fatwa against the singing of 'Vande Mataram' has re-ignited an age-old debate about the acceptance of Vande Mataram as our national song by the Muslim community.

The fresh fatwa is not without history. In 2006, the BJP had asked all schools and educational institutions to sing the national song on the occasion of 125 years of the song's creation. They were opposed by the clerics, who later issued a fatwa against the singing of the song.

On the other side of the debate are prominent Muslims who say they do not find the song provocative as the stanzas that were against Muslims have been eliminated by the Congress Working Committee way back in 1937.

Is this fresh fatwa then, a non-issue? Should the clerics focus more on the development of the minority community rather than involving themselves in petty divisive politics for the votebank? Is the singing of Vande Mataram a litmus test of our patriotism?
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/new/NDTV-Show-Special.aspx?ID=453

Nov 09, 2009 09:11 PM
2

I have been writing for a long time how the Hindutva Forces have been using Vande Mataram to divide and Rule the Plural society.

Kishanchand bhagat, based in lalgola, Murshidabad in bengal has proved very well that the Song was never written by Bankim Chandra. Originally it was a Shakti STUTI used by the Tantriks who worshipped the Sickled kali and the temple still exists in Lalgola Open jail campus. Bankim stayed here where kaji Najrul aslo stayed and Wrote Shyama Sangeet.

The Queen of nator on the bank of Padma across Lalgola was the leader of the Indigenous aboriginal masses in Bengal.East India company arrested the Queen which ignited the Agrarian Revolt originally in shape of Peasant rising and it had nothing to do with Hindutva as the Muslims as well as Hidnu, mainly SC, ST and OBC people were fighting against the Colonial Rule. Sadhus as well as Sufi and baul, the NON Hindu Muslim Religios leaders also particiaped in the Revolt which was ROMANTICISED further by Bankim chandra in his Novel, better to say ROMANCE DEBI Chowdharani. He made the Peasant Secular Anti Feudal Anti Imperialist Insurrectionagainst company Rule a HINDUTVA identity and later nationality affar. Bankim was Never concerend with Scoial Realism and was straight Forward Brahaminwho defended the Feudal system and oppsed land reforms. He meant BANGA MATA which may be understood with the referecnces in Bangal Brahaminical Nationality and Brahamin Front ruling Bengal and which manipulated the Partition of bengala s well as India. The Brahamin hegemony was fed up with Dalit Reanissance in bengal and dalit Muslim Unity which denied them state power until India was Divided. had bengal and Punjab remained undivided the Muslims, sikhs and dalits with Tribal communities and OBC woud bhave ruled India. Tagore proved to be the saviour of Brahaminical hegemony in alliance with Nehru and Gandhi who made the Hindu India nationality justifying the Hindu rashtra making Bangamata, Bharat mata the War Goddess Durga in Disguise.
Palash Biswas
Kolkata, India
Sep 07, 2006 12:00 AM
1

It was quite understandable in the part of JNU Historians in Greenising our history without a single trace of Barbaric Mughals or a Fanatic Jinnah and infact glorifying those likes in our books. But we all have studied the significance of this song in our freedom movement, despite these commie Historians. It was the driving inspirational force and the sole mantra against the oppressive English for our grand fathers in all levels including for those in Ex-Indias. In all our demonstrations against the British they shouted "Vande Mataram" from within their souls. All of a sudden the song became communal and has to be abandoned. And what next... changing of the flag to all green??? since they won't salute the chakra,white & saffron in our flag since it's not advisable in their evil book...???
sripathi
Nicosia, Cyprus

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?232423

The RSS has said it would translate the 'Vande Mataram' into Urdu for distribution among Muslims.On the other hand, the Hatred campaign targeting the Muslims directly and indirectly Sc, OBC and St communities along with Converted Minorities as the Muslim Population was created with Conversion of the Outcaste Communities by the Manusmriti Rule. Hence,Kancha Illaaiya refuges to sing Vandemataram as he does no want to Worship the War Goddess provoked to Kill the Demonised Aboriginal Indigenous Black Untouchables.

The RSS Chief, Mohan Bhagwat has warned that the nation's integrity was under threat from various forces inside and outside the country.

Addressing a function here last evening, Bhagwat said that China's interference in the internal matters of the country was increasing while dispute with Pakistan has been going on for many years.

The RSS Chief said that there was a time when India wanted to emulate Russia, then it began looking towards America and now it is seeing towards China.

"All this is unfortunate and I wonder when we would think of becoming truly Indian," he said.

The RSS Chief said that the country's integrity was also being threatened by terrorism and naxalites.

Bhagwat said that globalisation may have helped to increase the strength of India but there are dangers hovering around the country.

"We will get the Vande Matram translated into Urdu and it will be distributed among the members of Muslim community," former RSS chief K C Sudarshan told a meeting of senior Sangh functionaries here yesterday.

According to the Holy Quran, God has sent 1,24,000 prophets, he claimed and said "Rama and Krishna may be among them. If Muslims accept them as messengers of God, then the differences will be wiped off".

Stating that Ayodhya is a holy place for both Hindus and Muslims, the RSS leader said, "It is the birth place of Hazrat Nuh (one of the messengers of God according to Quran). Manu and Ram were also born here."

The Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind had on Tuesday asked members of the community not to recite Vande Mataram on the ground that some verses of the National Song are against the tenets of Islam.

Meanwhile,Defying the 'fatwa' issued by Jamiat-Ulama-e-Hind against rendition of Vande Mataram, a group of Muslims led by a clergyman joined people from other communities in singing the national song in front of a mosque here.

A large number of people from a cross section of the society collected in front of the Jama Masjid at Betul Bazar at the invitation of its Imam Hafiz Abdul Razique and recited the song yesterday.

The event was organised by "Rukmani Balaji Mandir", its founder Sam Verma, an NRI, said.

After singing the national song at the temple, a rally acclaiming "Bharat Mata" was taken out and when it was proceeding towards the Bazar Chowk, Razique requested them to sing "Vande Mataram" in front of the Mosque. Several members of the minority community joined in.

"It is not against Islam to sing Vande Mataram," Razique said and added that he himself requested those taking part in the rally to sing the national song in front of the Mosque.

The Jamiat, one of the most influential bodies of Muslim clerics in the country, had recently issued an edict that recital of the national song went against the tenets of Islam that preaches monotheism.

The RSS is neither a political outfit nor a para-military force, but is an organisation engaged in unifying society on the basis of Hindutva, its chief Mohan Bhagwat said today.

"Though, we have our flag and some people from the RSS have joined political organisations, the Sangh has nothing to do with politics," he said at a function here.

"The RSS is neither a political outfit nor a para-military force. Its primary function is to unify society on the basis of Hindutva," Bhagwat told Sangh cadres.

The RSS Sarsanghchalak invited people from other religions to see functioning of the Sangh from close range to know the truth.

Terming Hinduism as the "most tolerant religion", Bhagwat said only it had the capability to hold society together.

He said the Union government should gear itself to meet any challenge posed to the country by its "hostile neighbours" like Pakistan and China.

On the leadership change in the BJP, Bhagwat said the Sangh had nothing to do with it.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) today condemned an international move to equate caste with race and said it would destroy the social fabric of India.

"It should be borne in mind that all efforts to internationalise caste are designs to weaken our national solidarity and destroy our social fabric. They should be opposed by all right-thinking citizens in all fora," RSS General Secretary Bhaiyaji Joshi told reporters.

He said in the aftermath of the Durban review conference held in Geneva in April 2009, reports appeared suggesting renewed attempts to bring caste into the ambit of racism. It was worthwhile to recall similar attempts made by certain western powers and some NGOs sponsored by them at the time of the world conference against racism organised by the UN in South Africa in August-September 2001, he said.

He said the Centre has taken a rational and well-reasoned view that equating caste with race is grossly incorrect and will defeat the very purpose of obliterating racism in the world for which the conference was convened. Many scholars and eminent sociologists described the attempts to equate caste with race as "politically mischievous and scientifically nonsensical."

Joshi said the attempts to internationalise the caste issue were very much on and certain European powers were using some words like "descent" to buttress their claims that caste too was a form of racism.

"Unfortunately, certain statements attributed to the present high commissioner of the UNHRC also indicated her interest in this direction fuelling many controversies," he said.

"It is becoming detrimental to the very mandate of the UNHRC", Joshi said and urged the Centre to be alert to these designs.

"Caste is an internal matter of India and we have addressed problems through various constitutional safeguards like the Civil Rights Act (1954) and the SC and ST Act (1978).

Betul (MP), Nov 9 (PTI) Defying the ''fatwa'' issued by Jamiat-Ulama-e-Hind against rendition of Vande Mataram, a group of Muslims led by a clergyman joined people from other communities in singing the national song in front of a mosque here. A large number of people from a cross section of the society collected in front of the Jama Masjid at Betul Bazar at the invitation of its Imam Hafiz Abdul Razique and recited the song yesterday.

The event was organised by "Rukmani Balaji Mandir", its founder Sam Verma, an NRI, said. After singing the national song at the temple, a rally acclaiming "Bharat Mata" was taken out and when it was proceeding towards the Bazar Chowk, Razique requested them to sing "Vande Mataram" in front of the Mosque.

Several members of the minority community joined in. "It is not against Islam to sing Vande Mataram," Razique said and added that he himself requested those taking part in the rally to sing the national song in front of the Mosque.

The Jamiat, one of the most influential bodies of Muslim clerics in the country, had recently issued an edict that recital of the national song went against the tenets of Islam that preaches monotheism.

R R Patil, who was forced to resign as Maharashtra Home Minister after the Mumbai terror attacks, today said strengthening security to avert a 26/11- type strike would be the government's top priority.

"Beefing up the security apparatus and improving coordination among concerned agencies would top my agenda," Patil, who has made a comeback to the Home department a year after the attacks, said.

The senior NCP leader while quitting after the Mumbai attacks had said, "My conscience did not permit me to continue in the post". He was later made the party's state unit chief.

"Coastal security is already being strengthened. We will improve coordination with the Navy and the Coast Guard," Patil told PTI. The terrorists involved in 26/11 attacks had come via the sea route.

The first batch of Force One commandos, the elite force formed on the lines of National Security Guards (NSG), is ready, the Minister said.

"The first batch has been trained and will be operational soon," he said.

The Government would also speed up modernisation of police force and strengthen intelligence machinery, Patil said.

The US said it has briefed the Indian government on the case of David Headley Coleman, nabbed by FBI last month for plotting a major terror attack in India at the LeT's behest, and continues to follow the matter.

"I know that our Ambassador (Tim Roemer) has briefed the government of India on the case, and we continue to follow the case," State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters in response to a question at his daily news briefing.

49-year-old Headley was arrested last month at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport as he prepared to board a flight to Philadelphia, intending to travel to Pakistan. FBI also arrested another person, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 48, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, in the case.

Kelly refused to divulge any further information about the case, stating that the issue is sub-judice.

"I'm not at liberty to divulge the details of the interrogation. It's an ongoing legal case, and it really is up to the Department of Justice .... That's really in their purview," he said.

"But I do know that we have briefed the Government of India on the broad parameters of the case," Kelly said.

RSS Regrets India's Lukewarm Response to Aggression
Rajgir (Bihar) | Oct 11, 2009
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RSS today said India's response to the acts of aggression is "grossly inadequate" along the Indo-China border and asked Government to take immediate steps to strengthen the frontiers.

"It is necessary to enhance response capability of our forces on the Indo-China border in the face of huge military build up by China on the other side," Sangh General Secretary, Suresh Joshi told reporters at the end of the three-day national executive meet of the RSS here today.

"The Chinese have deployed three Es -- engagement, encirclement and encouragement of our enemies -- as their tactical weapons to harass India," said a resolution unanimously adopted at the meet.

"They have also developed Coco Islands Listening Post in South Myanmar into a full-fledged military base and are building a commercial port in Sri Lanka while the Gwadar military port in the Sindh province of Pakistan built by them is ready for operations," it said.

"Our government should tell its counterparts in China that they must vacate the land annexed in the western sector and make no claims over the remaining sectors. It should also be asked to honour the McMahon Line," he said.

Joshi said China had succeeded in raking up Arunachal Pradesh issue in the Asian development Bank (AD with a view to scuttle the efforts to secure loans for developmental activity in that state.

It also unsuccessfully tried to prevent the Nuclear Supplier Group countries from lifting sanctions against India, he said.

The executive meeting also voiced its opposition to appeasement of minorities in any form in the country.

RSS, Joshi said, was opposed to Bihar's NDA government move to open a branch of the Aligarh Muslim University in Kishanganj. "We consider it as a step towards appeasement of minorities."
Home Ministry Rubbishes Intell Inputs on Terror Strike
Defence intelligence agencies were in an awkward situation today after the Home Ministry raised doubts over its alert of a possible Mumbai-type terror strike in the country being sounded allegedly without verifying the relevant inputs.

According to sources in the Home Ministry, Naval intelligence is believed to have picked up some intercept suggesting that a Mumbai-type terror strike could be carried out in four cities including Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The alert was transmitted to other agencies and reported in the media.

However, when coordinates of the intercept were asked by the Home Ministry from the Defence sleuths for verification, the sources said that no message was recovered thereafter raising suspicions over the authenticity of the intercepts.

This episode in the backdrop of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram categorical assertions in his orders to intelligence agencies including that from the Defence services and para-military forces that all information about threats should be verified properly before sharing it with other intelligence agencies, a Home Ministry official said.

The alert from the Naval intelligence stated that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists may carry out another attack at Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Kolkata.

Defence Intelligence Agencies had earlier alerted about a possible attack on World Badminton Championship in Hyderabad. After an internal inquiry, it was found that the intelligence input provided by DIA was baseless.

Religious Leaders
Don't Equate It With Patriotism
While RSS, BJP and others go on and on about making the singing of Vande Mataram mandatory, the various maulanas and other Muslim leaders point to the song's controversial past and question the need to rake up the controversy now. Others want a proper translation and understanding.

Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam, Delhi Jama Masjid: Vande Mataram is against Islamic beliefs and asking Muslims to sing it would amount to suppression of the community. When it comes to worship, only Allah is given that honour. A Muslim cannot worship his or her parents, motherland and even the Prophet though they are held in high esteem. Ever since Independence, all governments at the Centre and in states have been suppressing Muslims. This proposal is yet another example. If somebody sings Vande Mataram voluntarily, I have no objections. But if people are forced to do so, it will meet with resistance.

Avtar Singh Makkar, president, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee: How can I stop Sikhs from singing Vande Mataram when I cannot even prevent SGPC-run schools. I, alone, am not powerful enough to direct all members of the community not to sing the national song. (On 5 August he had issued a directive to schools run by the SGPC not to recite Vande Mataram as it only 'spreads a particular religion and does not fulfill the aspirations of minorities, including Sikhs, Muslims and Christians. It's a conspiracy to extend communalism in the nation'.)

K.S. Sudarshan, Sarsanghachalak, RSS: Singing Vande Mataram should be compulsory in all schools and academic institutions and Indians irrespective of their religion or faith should have no objection to reciting the national song. Those who do not have faith in Bharatmata have no right to live in the country. The current bout of controversy is the manifestation of a wider conspiracy. The nation was bifurcated in similar situations in 1947.

Mufti Zulfiqar, president, Uttar Pradesh Imams Organisation: Muslims are loyal to the nation and there is no need to prove their loyalty.

Mozaha Anjar Shah Kashmiri, Darul Uloom Deoband: Vande Mataram was under controversy since 1876 as it was against the tenets of the Shariat law to worship sky and soil. But Muslims are loyal to the nation.

Shaista Amber, chairman, All-India Muslim Women Personal Law Board: I support the fatwa issued by Deoband for closure of madarsas on September 7 to avoid controversy regarding singing of Vande Mataram on that day.

Maulana Marghoob ur Rahman, director, Dar-ul Uloom, Deoband: The Dar-ul Uloom has not issued any fatwa on the singing of the national song, no appealed to Muslim children to stay away from schools on September 7. A certain section is wanting to attack Dar-ul Uloom on this without any basis, as no fatwa has been issued.

Daawat, bi-weekly of Jamaat-e-Islami: There is no consensus on how the song is viewed by the Constitution and if it does have a controversial past, why has it been raked up now? Equating Vande Mataram with patriotism is wrong and being done with an objective of dividing society and taking political advantage of the situation.

Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, vice-president, All India Muslim Personal Law Board: According to the dictionary, ' vande' means to worship and as such it is not right for Muslims to recite it. However if ' vande' means saluting or paying respect to the country, there is nothing wrong in its recitation by Muslims. [He said he disagreed with the influential Darul Uloom seminary's advice to Muslim children not to attend school on September seven and suggested Muslim children could join the recitation of Vande Mataram but omit the word 'vande']. Eminent Sanskrit and Muslim scholars could work together to ascertain the correct Urdu translation of the word 'vande'. It is a "non-issue" created by the BJP, which is desperately looking for an issue for its survival. The BJP should restrain its Muslim leaders from issuing reckless statements on the issue. Some clerics have been harming the cause of Islam by issuing reckless fatwas at regular intervals on practically every issue and making it appear as if they were religious diktats

Mahmood A Madani, organising general secretary, Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind: It is wrong to relate reciting of Vande Mataram with patriotism. Muslims are firm in their resolve that they cannot and should not sing Vande Mataram and they should not be forced to do so. The Centre hasn't made the recitation of the song mandatory and the states should also follow that. If forced to sing, we will protest it with peaceful means, we will take up this issue to court. Muslims do not have to prove their love for motherland to anyone. We deeply love India as our motherland but cannot worship it as 'Ibadat sirf ek Khuda ki hoti hain' (only God is worshipped). Vande Mataram is a hymnical tribute to Goddess Durga, therefore, we cannot recite it. Even R N Tagore, M N Roy had said Muslims should not be forced to recite it.
I don't want to argue with him or anyone, but his statement cannot be construed as the statement of the MPLB of which I am also a member. (On asked to comment on All-India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Kalbe Sadiq's contention that if 'Vande' meant salutation, respect or homage Muslims can sing the national song).
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