Protocols for Singing Vande Mataram

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued the first formal protocols for singing the National Song Vande Mataram, especially when played with the National Anthem.

About ‘Vande Mataram’

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote the poem in 1875. He later included it in his 1882 Bengali novel Anandamath, published in the magazine Bangadarshan.
Structure: The poem has six stanzas; the first two use Sanskrit and the latter ones use Bengali.
Portrayal: In the novel, warrior-monks sing the hymn to praise Mother India through the image of goddess Durga.
Trigger: British promotion of “God Save the King/Queen” encouraged Bankim to write a patriotic hymn.

Order of Performance: When the National Song and National Anthem are rendered together, Vande Mataram must be sung or played first, ensuring uniform ceremonial protocol.
Complete Version Mandate: The officially approved six-stanza version shall be performed at specified formal and ceremonial state functions.
Standing Protocol: The audience must stand in attention as a mark of respect whenever the official version is sung or played.
Film Exception: Standing is not required when featured within newsreels or documentaries.

Early Tune: Jadunath Bhattacharya composed an initial tune for the poem at Bankim Chandra’s request.
Tagore: Rabindranath Tagore composed a widely recognised version based on the raga Desh Malhar.
Debut: Tagore first sang Vande Mataram publicly at the Congress Session 1896 in Calcutta presided over by M. Rahmathulla Sayani.

Rally Cry: Vande Mataram became the central slogan of the Swadeshi and boycott movement after the 1905 partition of Bengal.
First Use: The slogan was publicly raised for the first time on 7 August 1905 at Calcutta’s Town Hall.
Customary: Vande Mataram became the customary opening song for all-India Congress occasions at the 1905 Varanasi session. Sarala Devi Chaudhurani sang it at the session.

Colonial Ban: The British banned public chanting or display of Vande Mataram, imposing fines and using force against protesters.
Defiance: The ban made the chant an act of resistance, with freedom fighters accepting jail or death while uttering it.
Journals: Bipin Chandra Pal launched the English journal Bande Mataram in 1906, edited by Aurobindo. Lala Lajpat Rai later started an Urdu daily with the same name in 1920.
Flag: Bhikaji Cama unfurled an Indian flag in Stuttgart in 1907 with “Vande Mataram” written across the central band.

Decision: The Congress Working Committee decided in 1937 to use only the first two stanzas for public and national gatherings.
Leaders: The 1937 CWC included Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and Subhas Chandra Bose. Rabindranath Tagore advised using only the first two stanzas.
Concerns: The remaining stanzas were removed after minority groups objected to explicit invocations of Hindu goddesses Durga and Lakshmi.

Recognition: On 24 January 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of the Constituent Assembly, declared Vande Mataram the National Song of India.
Status: It was declared to be honoured equally with the National Anthem Jana Gana Mana.
Law: Unlike the National Anthem, the National Song is not enforceable under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
Protocol: Each new session of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha opens with the National Anthem and concludes sine die with the National Song Vande Mataram.