Political Firestorm in Bengal Over Centre's 'Vande Mataram' Protocol
Kolkata: A fierce political controversy has erupted in West Bengal, the birthplace of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who composed the national song 'Vande Mataram', after the Central government issued an official protocol for its rendition. This move has sparked a heated war of words between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with both sides accusing each other of politicizing cultural heritage.
Trinamool Congress Stands Firm Against Alleged Divisive Politics
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh strongly criticized the Centre's initiative, asserting that neither the government nor the Union home ministry can surpass Rabindranath Tagore's understanding and evaluation of 'Vande Mataram'. He emphasized that historical figures like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi aligned with Tagore's perspective on the song.
"We take immense pride in the fact that both 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jana Gana Mana' were authored by two distinguished sons of Bengal. However, we vehemently oppose any attempts to create a rift between Chattopadhyay and Tagore through political maneuvering," Ghosh stated.
He further highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has yet to apologize for referring to Chattopadhyay as 'Bankimda', clarifying that the issue is not about respect but about resisting efforts to pit the two literary giants against each other. Ghosh questioned whether the BJP's interpretation of the song could be superior to Tagore's, noting that certain stanzas are sung based on Tagore's detailed reasoning, which was rooted in the song's role as a mantra for freedom fighters.
BJP Counters with Allegations of Religious Appeasement
In response, the Bengal BJP dismissed TMC's allegations, claiming that 'Vande Mataram' was altered to remove stanzas praising Maa Durga, a move they attribute to Congress's appeasement politics. Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya questioned TMC's consistency, pointing out that the party recently organized a carnival celebrating Maa Durga.
"Trinamool's sudden change in stance raises serious doubts—was their Durga carnival merely a superficial display?" Bhattacharya remarked. He alleged that TMC's position on 'Vande Mataram' indicates a potential threat to Durga pujas, citing past incidents of attacks during Saraswati and Kali pujas.
A BJP leader emphasized that today's youth should be acquainted with the song in its entirety, arguing that the full version, including the Durga praises, is essential for preserving cultural integrity.
Congress Joins the Fray, Criticizing BJP's Cultural Credentials
Adding to the political discourse, state Congress president Subhankar Sarkar criticized the BJP for lacking great thinkers in its heritage and accused the party of appropriating intellectual figures from various sources. He alleged that the BJP has begun to renounce Rabindranath Tagore and refuses to acknowledge that his song serves as the national anthem of Bangladesh.
"They cannot even pronounce Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's name correctly, yet they seek to dictate cultural narratives," Sarkar asserted, underscoring the ongoing tension over cultural ownership and political symbolism in Bengal.
This escalating debate underscores the deep-seated political and cultural divisions in West Bengal, as parties leverage historical and religious sentiments to bolster their positions ahead of upcoming electoral battles.
