First of all, the issue is about how you deal with it. Its a democracy and if you cant ACCEPT what is, then you CHANGE it. If it offends someone they should proceed though the right channels and get the constituition amended. What you dont do is REJECT outright a national symbol endorsed by the constituition and provoke others to reject it. It is tantamount to saying that you and your organisation is above the country's system and constituition, not to mention heritage and culture.
Secondly, in my personal view, I dont care a hoot about the gods/godesses mentioned in it coz I dont believe in them. (Also, if any of you have actually listened to the national song, you should know that the goddess mention which is in the original literary work is not there in the version that is sung as the national song). I cannot think of any places of worship(temples) where the song is sung either.
What I care about is the thousands of brave men and women (of all faiths) who chose 'Vande Mataram' as their final words before they walked into lathis,bayonets, bullets or gallows with their heads held high. People who gave up everything including their jobs, their houses, families and ultimately their lives.'Vande Mataram' to me embodies their sacrifices, to a magnitude that I cannot even begin to fathom. and if someone says that it offends them, it means they are offended by the very conviction,the essence, the spirit that motivated those brave souls to fight for their freedom. The very freedom that is used today to REJECT national symbols outright.
Third, pardon my ignorance, but is it a pre-requisite to reject anything outside Islam to become a good Muslim? Then do remember that the Indian flag that has Asoka Chakra, the wheel of dharma, which symbolizes the teachings of Buddha. Does that offend you? Have problems respecting it?
When you are at it, you might as well declare a fatwa against Indian currency and coins. How can you use them on a daily basis coz it has the national emblem which happens to be the adaptation of a Buddhist stupa at Sanchi and has the words from a Hindu Upanishad. (Satyameva Jayate). Funny thing, no one ever got offended by currency notes/coins, that you encounter much more frequently than the national song. Money speaks a different language, I suppose.
The post did not say anything about patriotism. I dont understand why people started on it.
Like I said, its a democracy, which means you have the freedom to express dissent and change what you dont like. When you are at it, do think how many countries are there in the world where you can REJECT a national symbol and the majority's beliefs and be immune to prosecution.
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"I associated the purest national spirit with it(vande Mataram). It never occurred to me that it was a Hindu song or meant only for Hindus. Unfortunately now we have fallen on evil days. All that was pure gold before has become base metal today. In such times it is wisdom not to market pure gold and let it be sold as base metal. I would not risk a single quarrel over singing Vande Mataram at a mixed gathering. It will never suffer from disuse. It is enthroned in the hearts of millions. It stirs to its depth the patriotism of millions in and outside Bengal. Its chosen stanzas are Bengal’s gift among many others to the whole nation.”- Mahatma Gandhi.
First of all, the issue is about how you deal with it. Its a democracy and if you cant ACCEPT what is, then you CHANGE it. If it offends someone they should proceed though the right channels and get the constituition amended. What you dont do is REJECT outright a national symbol endorsed by the constituition and provoke others to reject it. It is tantamount to saying that you and your organisation is above the country's system and constituition, not to mention heritage and culture.
Secondly, in my personal view, I dont care a hoot about the gods/godesses mentioned in it coz I dont believe in them. (Also, if any of you have actually listened to the national song, you should know that the goddess mention which is in the original literary work is not there in the version that is sung as the national song). I cannot think of any places of worship(temples) where the song is sung either.
What I care about is the thousands of brave men and women (of all faiths) who chose 'Vande Mataram' as their final words before they walked into lathis,bayonets, bullets or gallows with their heads held high. People who gave up everything including their jobs, their houses, families and ultimately their lives.'Vande Mataram' to me embodies their sacrifices, to a magnitude that I cannot even begin to fathom. and if someone says that it offends them, it means they are offended by the very conviction,the essence, the spirit that motivated those brave souls to fight for their freedom. The very freedom that is used today to REJECT national symbols outright.
Third, pardon my ignorance, but is it a pre-requisite to reject anything outside Islam to become a good Muslim? Then do remember that the Indian flag that has Asoka Chakra, the wheel of dharma, which symbolizes the teachings of Buddha. Does that offend you? Have problems respecting it?
When you are at it, you might as well declare a fatwa against Indian currency and coins. How can you use them on a daily basis coz it has the national emblem which happens to be the adaptation of a Buddhist stupa at Sanchi and has the words from a Hindu Upanishad. (Satyameva Jayate). Funny thing, no one ever got offended by currency notes/coins, that you encounter much more frequently than the national song. Money speaks a different language, I suppose.
The post did not say anything about patriotism. I dont understand why people started on it.
Like I said, its a democracy, which means you have the freedom to express dissent and change what you dont like. When you are at it, do think how many countries are there in the world where you can REJECT a national symbol and the majority's beliefs and be immune to prosecution.
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"I associated the purest national spirit with it(vande Mataram). It never occurred to me that it was a Hindu song or meant only for Hindus. Unfortunately now we have fallen on evil days. All that was pure gold before has become base metal today. In such times it is wisdom not to market pure gold and let it be sold as base metal. I would not risk a single quarrel over singing Vande Mataram at a mixed gathering. It will never suffer from disuse. It is enthroned in the hearts of millions. It stirs to its depth the patriotism of millions in and outside Bengal. Its chosen stanzas are Bengal’s gift among many others to the whole nation.”- Mahatma Gandhi.