kolkata

IIE DIGITAL: The West Bengal Higher Education Department has directed government and government-aided colleges across the state to ensure that all cultural programmes and student gatherings begin with the singing of Vande Mataram. The directive, issued to college principals on July 6, asks institutions to implement the order with immediate effect and organise seminars and workshops to promote the significance of the national song among students.

The move follows an earlier decision to make Vande Mataram mandatory during morning assemblies in government and aided schools and madrasas. According to education department officials, the initiative is aimed at instilling respect for the national song among students and encouraging them to begin all cultural programmes and gatherings with its rendition.

The directive comes as this year marks the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875 and later included in his 1882 novel Anandamath. The song, which personifies India as the motherland, was first sung publicly by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress.

Earlier this year, on March 12, the Union Home Ministry issued an order stating that whenever both Vande Mataram and the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana are featured at government functions. All six stanzas of Vande Mataram should be sung before the national anthem.

Responding to the latest directive, Pankaj Ray, president of the All Bengal Principals' Council, said colleges would comply with the order. Basanti Devi College principal Indrila Guha also said the institution would conduct seminars and workshops throughout the year to sensitise students about the significance of Vande Mataram.