Nagaland church council opposes mandatory singing of Vande Mataram
Kohima: The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has opposed any directive seeking to make the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ compulsory, particularly for members of the Christian community, asserting that patriotism should not be reduced to compulsory conformity.
According to Kashmir Media Service, NBCC general secretary Rev Dr Mar Pongener and secretary for social concern Dr Villo Naleo said the church body respected India’s national symbols and constitutional values, but matters involving faith, conscience and identity required sensitivity.
“Patriotism must never be reduced to compulsory conformity,” the council said, adding that a citizen’s love for the country cannot be measured solely by participation in a prescribed patriotic expression. The NBCC said India’s constitutional framework was based on liberty, equality and pluralism, and urged the state and public institutions to exercise restraint when national symbols carry different meanings for different communities. It cautioned that coercion may result in “outward compliance” but cannot create genuine loyalty or a sense of belonging.
The statement comes as the Naga Students’ Federation and Ao Students’ Conference had earlier directed schools under them not to send students to Independence Day programmes on August 15, citing objections to the mandatory playing or singing of the revised version of Vande Mataram.
The council advised the government, educational institutions and civil society to approach the issue with “wisdom, restraint and constitutional sensitivity”.
