In response to the instruction received from the Human Resource Development Ministry of the government of India, Assam government has issued a blanket directive making 'Vande Mataram' singing mandatory in all educational institutions in the state on September 7 to mark the centenary celebrations of the anthem that was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee from West Bengal.
Assam Education Minister Ripun Bora informed that the state government decided to issue a blanket directive to all schools, colleges and other educational institutions in the state to facilitate singing of the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' at 11 am on September 7. This was in tune with the HRD ministry directive issued by Assam government in August.
Assam happens to be the first Congress-ruled state in the country to issue such a blanket order to facilitate mandatory singing of 'Vande Mataram' in all educational institutions irrespective of their religious affiliation.
A section of political leaders from religious minority community in Assam, which has about 37 per cent Muslim population,