Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, first appeared in his novel Anandamathin1881. Those were the times when Indian resentment against the British rule were getting stronger. Calcutta (now Kolkata) was the seat of power of the British India. It was famously stressed in those days that ‘what Bengal thinks today would be thought tomorrow by India’. Bankim Chandra was an official of the Raj. He had witnessed the frustration of Indian people. In spite of the Sanyasi-Faqir revolt against the foreign rule, some people were busy with fanning the fire of hate between the two major communities, Hindus and Muslims. The novel Anandamath was also an example of this trend. The author believed that Bengal would be a better place if the British became stronger. There are clear signs of the communal divide in this novel. The author was well aware of the fact that Muslim nawabs of Murshidabad had ruled Bengal, which at that time included Bihar and Orissa also. This novel welcomes the end of Muslim nawab’s rule in Bengal. It supports the British Raj in a veiled manner.
Even before 1947, during the freedom struggle, Vande Mataram was a controversial song. Muslims had a strong resentment against it. They said that vandana or bandagi or worship must be done only to Almighty God. As regards the Hindus, there is no clear line where praise stops for men and worship starts for God. Therefore, we find widespread use of the words like PujyaPitaji, Pujya Guruji, etc. But Muslims object to these words and assert that prayer, worship or acts of worship should be done to God and God alone. Islam clearly stipulates that worship should not be done to anyone other than God. Therefore, Muslims, while showing utmost respect to the Prophets, say Alaihissalam (may peace be to them). This means that the Prophets also are human beings though they deserve greatest honour and respect; even then they should not be equated with God and no words of respect used for God should be used for them. That is why the Kalima Shahadah reads: “I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah and Muhammad is His (God’s) servant and messenger.” A devout Muslim would never think of equating the most venerable Last Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad, with God.An old Urdu poet had said it in very clear words: jo teresewahaiwoh tera bandahai (everyone other than You [God] is Your servant).
In every rakat (unit) of all namaz(prayers) the wordsاِیاکَنَعبُدُوَاِیاکَنَستَعِینُ (we worship You alone and seek help also from you) is recited by all Muslims. The policymakers of the ruling party fully understand it. Then why the BJP is making a non-issue the core of controversy? Having failed on all fronts, the BJP is pushing its polarisation policy and making a hill out of a mole. Patriotism is a natural instinct but it should not be equated with a slogan or song. Every Indian citizen sincerely loves India. The BJP wants to impress its vote bank that the Muslims do not love and value their nation.
The RSS and its political wing never participated in the freedom struggle. On the other hand, the Muslims of India have a bright trail of fighting for and dying for India. Every particle of India stands witness to this. The BJP must desist from its tactics of dividing India and spreading hate. It would be a grave sin against the concept of fraternity espoused by the Constitution of India as mentioned in the Preamble.
– Ejaz Ahmed Aslam