The Vande Matram Controversy and an appeal

A few weeks ago the papers were filled (again) with the Vande Matram controversy, with the various madarsas claiming that it is against Islam, and the Sangh pariwar (again) questioning the "Indianness" and patriotism of Indian muslims.

I find this to be stupid and irrelevant on both parts. On one side, I can't think how can singing or not singing a song determine your patriotism? And, on the other hand, I find the reaction of the Maulvi's to be a bit too orthodox and bookish. I am no expert in Bengali or Sanskrit, but from what I know and have read, the literal translation of Vande Matram is "I bow to thee, mother!!". Now, bowing in itself can refer to a lot of actions. For example, it can refer to anything from the action one does in front of the audience when he "takes a bow", to the "rukuh" or "sajdah" of Muslims, to the bowing and touching of the feet of elders in Hinduism. I believe it is this diversity of actions and meanings that is the base of the controversy.

For the Muslims, Sajdah is something that is reserved only for God Almighty. We do not perform the sajdah to anyone else, not even to Prophet Mohammed (may peace be upon him). So, to ask us to so Sajdah to the motherland amounts to shirk. (Mind you, in the words of Moulana Mufti Syed Shah Badruddin Qadri Aljeelani, the then president of All India Sunni Ulema Board, "If you bow at the feet of your mother with respect, it is not shirk but only respect."). Thus, the main bone of contention is the actual meaning of the word "Vande" and how a person takes it.

Another reason for the hooplah is the actual poem written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, which depicts the country as Maa DUrga, which obviously does not go well with religions like Islam, Christianity, Sikhs, and others who do not believe in idol worship. However, this is not of much importance as the text taken for the National Song is from the first two stanzas of the whole song - which is an unexceptional evocation of the beauty of motherland.

For most people, Vande Matram just means "Praise to thee, O' Motherland". If you ask me, I have no problem in bowing before my country, but my bow will be similar to how I bow before my Parents, my elders, and those I respect. For me, it is similar to how I refer to Allah when I say Bhagwan or Ishwar, and I know that God Almighty does not go looking into the words or the language in which he was referred to or called. It is for this reason that I do not find myself agreeing to the fatwa against Vande Matram, as long as one refers to the National Song and not the whole text.

Another angle to this nonsense bawaal was added by those who want us Muslims to pay reverence to the idols of the motherland. This is against what I believe. If one wants to depict the motherland in some way, I am fine by it. If someone wants to pray to her - go ahead. But, please, for the sake of God! do not force others to do what you are doing, do not question the patriotism of others who fail to toe the line. Do not throw us out. Do not shun us. And, above all, do not try to tell us how to love our country.

This land belongs as much to us as to you. We both have lived here for centuries, have shared the same sorrow, the same happiness, the same turbulent times, the same low and highs. Please do not forget this. Do not Nazify this country in the name of religion, appearence, states, status, languages, or cultures.

We have enough trouble with our neighbours, one of whom is hellbent on destroying itself in the fire it started to burn us down, and the other who speaks one thing and does the other, to have time to fight within.

Please give it a thought.

This is Hashir, signing off

Over and out