Vande Mataram to be played before Jana Gana Mana, says Centre to States and government bodies

The Union government has said in a set of instructions to States and other government bodies that the national song Vande Mataram should be sung or played before the national anthem Jana Gana Mana when both the songs are played at an event.

The fresh set of guidelines were uploaded on the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) website on February 6 but no formal announcement or a statement was issued.

It states that whenever the official version of the national song, around 3.10 minutes long, is sung or played, the audience shall stand to attention. “However, when in the course of a newsreel or documentary, the national song is played as a part of the film, it is not expected of the audience to stand as standing is bound to interrupt the exhibition of the film and would create disorder and confusion rather than add to the dignity of the national song,” it said.

Instructions for guidance

The MHA said the instructions are being issued for general information and guidance on the official version of the song, the occasions on which it is to be played or sung, and the need for paying respect to the song by observance of proper decorum on such occasions.

It said that the song Vande Mataram written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee is known as the “national song which is to be sung on arrival and departure of the President at formal State functions and other functions organised by the government, immediately before and after the President addresses the nation over All India Radio and television, on arrival and departure of the Governor/Lieutenant Governor at formal State functions, when the national flag is brought on parade, any other occasion for which special orders are issued by the Government of India”.

“When the national song is played by a band, the song will be preceded by a roll of drums to assist the audience to know that it is going to be played, unless there is some other specific indication that the national song is about to be played,” the Ministry said in the guideline.

The official version shall be played accompanied by mass singing on the unfurling of the national flag, on cultural occasions or ceremonial functions other than parades. The mass singing could be arranged by having a choir of adequate size, suitably stationed, which would be trained to coordinate its singing with the band, etc. There should be an adequate public audition system so that the gathering in various enclosures can sing in unison with the choir while printed lyrics of the official version of the song may be circulated amongst the participants, wherever required, the MHA said.

It may be sung on occasions which, although not strictly ceremonial, are nevertheless invested with significance because of the presence of Ministers, etc., the Ministry stated.

“It is not possible to give an exhaustive list of occasions on which the singing (as distinct from playing) of official version of the national song can be permitted. But there is no objection to the singing of the national song accompanied by mass singing so long as it is done with due respect as a salutation to the motherland and proper decorum is maintained,” the MHA said.

“In all schools, the day’s work may begin with community singing of the national song. School authorities should make adequate provision in their programmes for popularising the singing of the national song, national anthem and promoting respect for the national flag among students,” the MHA added.