Vande Mataram

It is the centenary of India's national song and the feeling that it is evoking is anything but patriotic. Some parties are trying to make singing the national song mandatory while another section is raising its voice that the national song is against Muslims. The reasoning given by Muslims is that "Vande Mataram" is a praise of Goddess Durga and so they can't sing it. This seems to make sense. If they don't want to sing Vande Mataram, then let them sing "Jana gana mana" or "Sare Jahan se Achcha". When the intention is merely to hold our patriotic fervour, then any patriotic song should do. So, why are we getting into these controversial issues again and again? I see no reason but politics. But why does such politics exist? What makes politicians believe that they can garner votes of a particular section by going against another? Everything again boils down to the voting public's reasons to support a party. It is that bad decision that people make once in four or five years that fuels all these controversies 365 days a year.

"Nenju pOrukuthilaye inda nilai ketta manitharai ninainduvitaal nenju pOrukuthilaye"

- Bharathi