Hindutva imposition in West Bengal schools: Muslim body opposes mandatory ‘Vande Matram’ directive
New Delhi: Amid growing concerns over the increasing imposition of Hindutva-driven cultural and religious symbols in educational institutions across India, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has opposed the West Bengal government’s order making it compulsory for students to recite all stanzas of the Hindu song ‘Vande Mataram’ during morning assemblies in government schools and recognised madrasas.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the board has called for the notification to be withdrawn immediately or for Muslim students to be granted a complete exemption, saying the directive violates fundamental constitutional rights and runs counter to judicial precedent.
“The West Bengal government’s decision is not only contrary to the spirit of the Constitution but also inconsistent with India’s secular and democratic traditions,” AIMPLB said in a statement.
AIMPLB spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas argued that compelling students to recite any text that conflicts with their faith infringes on constitutional safeguards. He noted that the Constitution protects individual conscience and religious freedom.
Citing the Indian Supreme Court’s judgment in Bijoe Emmanuel vs State of Kerala, the board said students cannot be forced to participate in practices that violate their sincerely held beliefs.
The AIMPLB stated that some verses of ‘Vande Mataram’ are incompatible with the Islamic principle of Tawhid, or monotheism. It said mandating the full recitation could impact students’ religious identity and personal freedom.
The board urged Muslim students, parents, and teachers in West Bengal to be aware of their constitutional rights and to pursue legal recourse if pressured to comply.
Other Muslim organisations, including Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, have previously opposed mandatory full recitations of the song, citing similar concerns over constitutional and religious freedom and the growing push to impose majoritarian cultural practices in educational institutions.
