Why in News?
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued instructions to States and government bodies on the protocol for singing/playing Vande Mataram, including sequencing with the National Anthem, audience conduct, and ceremonial usage.
Description:
New MHA Guidelines:
In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of its composition, the Union Government has formalized the first structured protocol for Vande Mataram.
| Feature | New Protocol Details |
| Order of Performance | When played together, Vande Mataram must be played FIRST, followed by the National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana). |
| Official Duration | 3 minutes 10 seconds (Full version including all six stanzas). |
| Official Version | All six stanzas are now mandated for official functions (restoring the four stanzas typically omitted in the past). |
| Standing Decorum | The audience must stand to attention whenever the official version is sung/played. |
| Exception | No requirement to stand if the song is part of a film, newsreel, or documentary (to prevent disorder in theaters). |
| Institutional Use | Schools are encouraged to begin the day with community singing of the National Song. |
Core Historical & Literary Facts:
- Author: Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s (Sanskrit-Bengali mix).
- Source: Featured in his 1882 novel Anandamath, set against the backdrop of the Sanyasi Rebellion.
- Political Debut: First sung at a political level by Rabindranath Tagore during the 1896 Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress (INC).
- Swadeshi Movement (1905): Became the rallying cry against the Partition of Bengal; the British subsequently banned the song.
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