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Do you now understand why Muslims are alienated & feel alienated from the main stream ? Its because of such irresponsible statements as this. Goutom
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 12:57:09 +0530 Subject: It's not the Gita
I don't know who Ameen Khandwani is & what religion he belongs to. My religion is "Indian". I don't understand why Muslims should not be forced to recide Vande Mataram. Are not Muslims Indians ??? This is why communal clashes are going around in India. All other indians have one rule & Muslims need another... Then where is secularism. Nobody forced Muslims to recite Gita. People should first understand that they are Indians first, Muslims next... I don't know how such a kind of person is made Maharashtra State Minorities Commission chairman first. Sundar Balakrishnan
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 17:19:49 +1000 Subject: Sing It Proudly
Vande Mataram is a national song, so everybody must be proud of it. Everyone must respect it. It got nothing to do with someone being Hindu or Muslim. If we say we are Indian then we must respect it and we shouldn't be having any problems singing it. Mandeep Singh
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 12:41:07 +0530 (IST) Subject: Totally Unacceptable
I disagree with ameen khandwani. If he says that recital of the National song should not be made compulsory for muslims then he thinks that indian muslims are muslims first and indians later and such a view isn't acceptable. So, tomorrow he'll say that study of ancient history in middle school, the time in which only hinduism existed, should not be made compulsory for muslims. Deepak S. Patwardhan
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 12:38:19 +0530 Subject: Is he illiterate?
Khandwani should be informed, it is possible only if he promises that those who are not interested to sing vandematram would also not breathe in indian air and would not accept indian food as well as water. Khandwani may be educated but not literate enough to understand that every muslim in India is Indian. Rajeev Kaushal
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 15:06:17 +0800 Subject: It's for Indians
Maharashtra State Minorities Commission chairman Mr.Ameen Khandwani must first know that 'Vande Mataram' is for Indians and not a special song for either Hindus, Muslims, Christians or whoever...If a person is not ready to accept Vande Mataram as his national song,then he doesn't require an indian citizenship at all. Chanakya
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 12:33:50 +0530 Subject: Outrageous View
This is outrageous. "Vande Mataram" is our national song which is about the beauty & other aspects of our country, our motherland.It does not define any religion, any community so their must not be any discrimation about who should sing it and who not. I don't understand what's the big deal about raising such issues.Why can't these leaders let live the people in peace and concentrate on other more important issues. Ritu Garg
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 12:32:49 +0530 Subject: No religion involved
The Muslims should abide by all the rules and laws of the land like other minorities.They should not be granted any special status above other minority communities who have never raised such issues.Moreover this song does not invoke any religious sentiments. Raman Sharma
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 12:18:23 +0530 Subject: Traitors, all
This is just one more example of traitors in rediff.com supporting traitors elsewhere. The issue of muslim opposition to Vande Matram is not new. It came up even before we became independent. If you don't like our national song, then leave India. We do not need you traitors. Bharat Sharma
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 12:17:44 +0530 Subject: Have Some Respect
If you are promising to be an indian then it should not be like this, each an every Indian should have respect to national anthem and every indian should have national anthem on tongue. If Indian Muslims avoid national anthem they have no right to stay in India N Trivedi
Date: 23 Aug 2002 06:42:48 -0000 Subject: I Have the Power
"Vande Mataram" Literally talks about revering one's mother -'The Land of India'. I don't think this one national song has any religious implications. If Muslims have any problems singing this tune then I would rather think they have a problem about being Indian,because every Muslim living in India is an and he should not just respect the National Anthem and the National song ("Vande Mataram") but sing it too... Shout 'Vande Mataram' once and you will feel the power to fight for your motherland India ooze from your body. That is the impact Vande Mataram has on me and I believe that is the impact it should have on everybody. It ain't a question of being a Muslim so as not to utter 'Vande Mataram' , it's the question of not being enough of an Indian. Vidhata Deshpande
Date: 23 Aug 2002 06:40:21 -0000 Subject: Heavy Punishment
Vande Mataram shoud not be compulsory for Muslims??? Why??? Muslims are not part of the Country?? They r not god. If the want to stay in the country they should give the respect for national songs. not only muslims, for that matter anybody, hindu - muslim or anybody those who doesn't give respect for any of the national program should be "punished" and punished heavily. Bhupendra S Valsangkar
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 12:04:59 +0530 Subject: Don't colour it
National song and national anthem represent a nation and not any particular religion or community. Their recital should not be allowed to be given a religious or political colour. If their recital is compulsory, it is applicable to all - irrespective of religion or community. Otherwise their recital should not be made compulsory. S G Subramoney
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 12:04:17 +0530 Subject: National Identity
It's high time, we the people of this country realize that the country comes before indiviual beliefs and religions. Citizens of other countries feel proud to recite the national anthem as a form of national identity, whereas we are still debating the question of the essence of the National Anthem. - Nibor
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 02:33:20 EDT Subject: Execute Them
I should call him the family of Mir Zafar or in other words a traitor.now the time has come to execute these people who talks against our motherland.they live in our country, they take all the facilities from our country but they refuse to recite our national anthem or national song. i personally feel to punish these filthy type of people. long live my india, jai hind & vande maataram. PKG Roychowdhury
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 11:58:44 +0530 Subject: Sack Him Now
Ameen Khandwani must be sacked immediately for encouraging disrespect to the National Song. Karan Chandiok
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 10:24:35 +0400 Subject: Shocking Stand
It's shocking to read that India's national song Vande Mataram performance cannot be made compulsory. If anyone has the feeling of Indian, they themselves should take the right to perform national song. This statement is against national sentiment and should be punished and should be deported out of India. He should be termed as Extremist and should be hanged to death. Karthik.S
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 11:46:36 +0530 Subject: No Force, But...
No Indian must be forced to sing the national song. After all nationality is a feeling that comes from within and cannot be forced on anyone. But anyone who feels he/she is not an indian must forgo also all the priviliges that come from being an Indian, most of all stop being a legislator or a civic employee. Malani Mathias
Date: 23 Aug 2002 05:54:10 -0000 Subject: Plain Talk
We, the Indians, are emerging in all parts: Information Technology, Bio Technology and lot other fields, then why fight in the name of religion? Even if a Hindu prays in Mosque or a Muslim prays in Temple, there should not be any objection on it. After all, motto is to talk to God. It can be in the name of Allah or Bhagawan or can be any other. I am a Hindu but even I use to pay regards to all religion and even have gone to church, mosque and Gurudwara also. Ways of praying can be different but at last we are all doing the same thing i.e. talking to God. Ambrish
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 11:12:24 +0530 Subject: Are They Not Indians?
But why? Are Muslims not Indians first? What is Vande Mataram but salutations to our Mother Land? Do Muslims as Indians not want to salute their motherland? Monika
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 09:40:33 +0400 Subject: Zero Tolerance
I do not know why India is tolerating such people. Any citizen of India is Indian first. Religion comes later. If anybody not thinking like this, there is no right for him to stay in India. I do not think any Nation can tolerate such thinking. It is high time people of India react strongly and expose such sick minded persons.Only Governments cannot control and stop such hooligans. There should be public outcry. Media should condemn them forthright so that next time they will not talk like this. Reddy
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 10:58:31 +0530 Subject: Clear the Picture
Well, in first case I don't think there is no forcing an anybody to recite 'Vande Mataram'; but y should Muslims have any problem in reciting it - it's a tribute to the Motherland and not to any religious sermon ! If they r truly Indian they should feel proud and utmost willing, by self, not by force, to recite it, time and again. In such news, there should be a larger and a clearer picture then one predicted here, not one that gives a partial and a somewhat intimidatory picture, plz ! Dhruv Fozdar
Date: 23 Aug 2002 05:25:19 -0000 Subject: National Interest
It's painful to know that Maharashtra State Minority Commission chairman Ameen Khandwani, making such low remarks. Although he offers respect to the national song, but wants to keep the whole Muslim community at bay from reciting the national song. At a time when the very Indianness of every National being is at test, with communal forces playing foul and trying to create isolated minds such comments come as threating blows to the nations integrity. We expect Mr Ameen to review his comments and avoid creating a different identity for the whole of Muslim community, which could be harmful to national interest. Vande Mataram Sachin Gupta
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 10:49:07 +0530 Subject: Politicians to Blame
We must blame the political parties who to safe guard the vote bank have forgotten that they owe to nation and mother-land. We continue to hear and tolerate all unreasonable demands of these so called minorities. If some minority feels that with singing of National Anthem, their religion is in danger then the are not Indian and have no love for nation. Such people should be asked to leave this country and go to the land where their religion is more safe. In fact they should be put behind bars for making such anti national statements. They should also take pledge that they will never hold any high public office where they will have to respect and sing National anthem. Jagdish Mittal
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 05:10:18 +0000 Subject: Get out of India
If Maharashtra State Minorities Commission chairman Ameen Khandwani does not want to recite vande mataram, he is free to get out of this great country. muslims are mother india's sons and daughters too. for every thing they make as issue and keep their name in print. i am waiting for the day when indians become wise enough to make this kind of people shut their mouth . Satya Venkata Chary Maringanti
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 10:38:42 +0530 Subject: Is He From the Middle Ages?
In India, nobody is forced to do anything. SO thats OK. But God alone knows what could be the objection to singing Vande Mataram. Does'nt this kind of resistance make an average Indian suspicious? Would it be then so impossible to imagine that the majority distrusts them,as the these kind of people who represent the so called minority are not even prepared to participate for something that is national. God, it would be better if these elements can tell us what they wont do or accept in this country, in full or in part- the secular society, the tolerance, common law, civil behaviour, the constitution. Then the majority can spend time convincing them the merits or get convinced themselves. Life is too short to have these kind of "middle ages" outlook. Hence, I think, the time spent on this debate, most feel is worthless.This event mentioned in your article, therefore, is not a national outrage. Grow up!!!! Pradeep Nakhate
Date: 23 Aug 2002 05:05:18 -0000 Subject: Indians First
The news report that muslims are not reqd to sing vande mataram shows the true face of the Indian Muslims..na ghar ka naa ghaat ka. They should sing vande mataram before going to thier madrashas. They are Indian by passport and origin and should learn to respect India in all respects. Nabanita Chatterjee
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 10:25:54 +0530 Subject: Heritage Blues
Any Indian who refuses to recite the song "Vande Mataram" should be declared a traitor. Only objection Muslims have is its Sanskrit language connection. If this is accepted, they are allowed to refute our heritage. RJ Mankad
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 09:50:03 +0530 Subject: Do it Voluntarily
I am sorry and beg to differ this concept of excluding certain class of citizens from singing our National Songs. In my opinion, the very idea is not right. As Mr.Khandwani rightly said it is nothing but worshipping our Motherland. Nothing should come in our way, which will stop Indians in singing their National Songs. In fact we all must come forward voluntarily to sing our National Song and carry our National Flag whenever and wherever it is possible. I welcome an act by Parliament making it compulsory for all Indian citizens to sing and carry National Flags in all forums. Sundar
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 23:56:02 -0400 Subject: Queen Yes, Song No?
This is absolute ridiculous. No muslim has ever said "NO" to accepting everything in the name of the Queen in Canada, Australia, New Zealand or in so many other countries where Queen is still the head of state. They have to take the oath of loyalty to the Queen and their heirs. They don't have any such problem when they pray a living person there, but they have problems in praying the Motherland. Ridiculous. Pushkar Mishra
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 23:31:29 EDT Subject: What's the Issue?
Kazi Nazrul Islam one of Bengal's and India's greatest poet used Vande Mataram in many of his patriotic poems..so should those be banned by Muslims as well? If Muslims are to avoid everything unIslamic then living in Darul harb India itself is wrong. Issue out of a non-issue Masti
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 11:32:29 EDT Subject: Stand, Don't Run
Whatever objections Muslims have out of 'Vande-Matram', if they don't want to recite, it is their pleasure but they can stand quietly as a mark of respect for those freedom-fighters who chose this slogan for their aspirations. No religion on earth prevents its followers to respect patriotic-song. This should not be made a political-weapon to fight and raise communal-passion. Do our Muslim brothers and sisters see what sort of religious freedom the minorities get in the Islamic-countries? Do they express their outcry over crushing the religious-freedom of non-Muslim subjects in Muslim-homelands, be it vandalizing Buddha-statues in Afghanistan or simple celebrations of non-Islamic festival in public? Islam does have local shades in many countries. Muslim leaders should rethink about respecting a national-song with silence rather than running away from it. Harihar Jha
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 22:12:58 -0400 Subject: Secular? Us?
That shows the secular patriotism in true color. Ajay
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 18:12:58 -0700 Subject: Shut Up and Put Up
Vande Mataram is not about any religion. If an Indian is not willing to sing the national song or salute the Indian Flag he should give up his citizenship and live as a second class citizen not entitled to any of the government benefits including employment in state sector or move to any other country where such things are tolerated. ( Incidently there aren`t any. ) Shut up and put up. You are first an Indian then Muslim, Hindu or christian. Jai Hind. Shyam Nediyanchath
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 16:56:03 -0400 Subject: Rehaul the System
People are either illiterate (which is true for a lot of our leaders)and/or are politicising issues too much because they can't find anything else to do. (If only our politicians and our political pujaris, saints, priests and maulavis had some real work to do !! An idle mind is a devil's workshop is a very profound saying. Vande Mataram is a song that pays homage to the mother, to the earth, to the land. I don't see any part in the song that would make it seem leaning towards or against the believes of any religion. I really feel our schools should teach our kids our culture. The kids are our assets. They are our future. The future cannot stay on its own. The future grows on/from the past and for that matter the past has to be strong. Our centuries old traditions and culture are very strong. But we are not making good use of it. What all these politicians don't seem to realise is the fact that their children also get affected by these rules they try to create for their personal gains. They are devoiding their kids also in this process of the freedom of gaining impartial knowledge.
Instead of fighting over political gains for today, people must start to think long term. We have had 50+ years of independence. But what have we achieved? A major percentage of our population still don't have good living conditions. All that has been achieved is the politicians and their families have grown rich and arrogant. The country has grown poor and despondent. People need to realize our country and our freedom is priceless and is worth way more than our politicians and their families. We lack good, honest people as our leaders. Whoever we have are outnumbered vastly and are under the pressure of the party to live and perform against the ethics. Our people, the civil citizens are very forgiving..That is why these corrupt and dishonest leaders are thriving. It is time we do a proper rehaul of our system move all the dishonest people out and put people who love and want good for the country as leaders. We need educated people with clean personal records, not criminals and looters. We have decent amount of natural resources, in addition we have a huge resource of manpower. If we put our country first and plan our future, I know we will excel as the best country in the world. The ability and skillfullness of our manpower is applauded all over the world except at home. Why? Because we take our country, rights and freedom for granted. The day we ralise our duties are as important if not more, that will be the day the nation awakens to its old glory. I hope we achieve that at least in this decade. I really wish our politicians would grow up ! Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 15:44:50 +0800 Subject: Hail the Motherland
Let people like Mr.Ameen Khandwani know that respecting the motherland has no religion or language bearers. When someone ask for equal rights when it comes to jobs, education etc., they should also follow the same way the majority follows in respecting the nation. These people should understand that nothing is great than motherland. Religion, Language, Caste etc., could be followed only if there is motherland. Jai Hind. Ramesh K
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 10:23:26 +0530 Subject: No Nationalist
Vande mataram is our national anthem/Song. If someone refuses to sing that song then he is not a nationalist and he simply should be thrown out of this country Prem Khatri
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