Vande Mataram anti-Islamic, says Bukhari
ALLAHABAD: The national song Vande Mataram is "against Islamic beliefs" and asking Muslims to sing it would amount to "suppression" of the community, Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari said on Sunday.
Times of India story
It is ironic Pakistan, which is a Muslim state allows its citizens to sing its national anthem, whereas Mr Bukhari a citizen of India has issues with Indian muslims singing the Indian national song. At best this is a another attempt to mix politics and religion for political gains. The Bangladesh National anthem 'Amar Sonar Bangla', also salutes the mother and believe it or not was written by Rabindernath Tagore. If Bukhari is right, then Bangladesh needs to change its anthem too and maybe other countries too who show respect to their mothers.
Vande Mataram - The Indian national song
The Pakistani National anthem.
Th Bangladeshi National anthem
The Pakistani anthem from the Canadian embassy website is listed below.
English Translation
Blessed be sacred land,
Happy be bounteous relam,
Symbol of high resolve,
Land of Pakistan.
Blessed be thou citadel of faith.
The Order of this Scared Land
Is the might of the brotherhood of the people.
May the nation, the country, and the State
Shine in glory everlasting.
Blessed be the goal of our ambition.
This flag of the Cresent and the Star
Leads the way to progress and perfection,
Interpreter of our past,
glory of our present,
Inspiration of our future,
Symbol of Almighty's protection.
The Bangladesh national anthem by Tagore
My Bengal of gold, I love you
Forever your skies, your air set my heart in tune as if it were a flute,
In Spring, Oh mother mine, the fragrance from your mango-groves makes me wild with joy-
Ah, what a thrill!
In Autumn, Oh mother mine,
in the full-blossomed paddy fields,
I have seen spread all over - sweet smiles!
Ah, what a beauty, what shades, what an affection
and what a tenderness!
What a quilt have you spread at the feet of banyan trees and along the banks of rivers!
Oh mother mine, words from your lips are like Nectar to my ears!
Ah, what a thrill!
If sadness, Oh mother mine, casts a gloom on your face,
my eyes are filled with tears!
1 comment:
Vande Mataram, the song of our freedom struggle is struggling to retain its existence. Extremists like Syed Imam Bukhari are out to label it anti-Islamic. It is astonishing and deplorable to see how our national song, commanding the highest honour, renders itself to the polarised views of different political parties and communities.
Vande Mataram, our national song authored by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, does not allude to any religious sentiments. The song held sway during the freedom movement and was the motivating fulcrum around which the selfless citizens and leaders fought against the British. It inspired millions and brought under its spell nationalist leaders to sacrifice their lives and work for the liberation of India.
Then why our politicians are taking national song as an ego? If our political leaders have scant regard to the prized possessions and symbols of India, let its citizenry not remain blindfolded by religious dogmas. It is high time; all communities realise and rise in unison to sing honour and respect to the motherland. Will this remain a pipedream?
If you like to read more about this controversial topic, I have to suggest a very good article written by Veeresha B.M.
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