BMC Makes Six Stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ Mandatory at All Civic Events
Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution making it mandatory to sing all six stanzas of India’s national song, Vande Mataram, at future civic events.
The proposal was moved by Ganesh Khankar, leader of the House from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and aligns with a January 18 directive issued by the Union Home Ministry.
The 10-page order mandates that the six-stanza version of Vande Mataram, which runs approximately 3 minutes and 10 seconds, be sung or played at official ceremonies and occasions.
Awaiting Final Approval
The resolution has been forwarded to Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani for final approval.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Khankar said that once implemented, the BMC would become the first civic body in the country to formally adopt such a rule.
“I have sent the proposal to the commissioner’s office and have been following it consistently. Usually, it takes a month for the commissioner’s office to give a go-ahead to these kinds of proposals. However, in this case, I am hoping that the approval will come quicker,” he said.
Where It Will Be Sung
According to the resolution, the national song will be performed at events held in the civic corporation hall, during national celebrations such as Independence Day and Republic Day, and at other formal civic functions.
The Union Ministry’s directive also specifies protocol when both the national song and the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, are played together. In such cases, Vande Mataram must be played first, and the audience is required to stand at attention.
However, the order clarifies that when the national song is played as part of a newsreel or documentary, audiences are not expected to stand, as doing so could disrupt the screening.
Historical Roots
Vande Mataram was written in the late 19th century by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in Sanskritised Bengali. The original six-stanza composition first appeared in his novel Anandamath, set against the backdrop of famine and rebellion in 18th-century Bengal.
With the BMC’s move, the historic song is set to take on a more prominent and formal role in Mumbai’s civic life, pending final administrative approval.
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