Do You Have to Stand Up for Vande Mataram? Six Stanzas, 3 Minutes 10 Seconds Version Made Compulsory Under New Rules

The Ministry of Home Affairs has released a new set of instructions to be followed while the national song of India - the Vande Mataram - is played or sung. The song 'Vande Mataram', written by Shri Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, is known as the 'National Song' of India. Six stanzas of Vande Mataram has been made mandatory at official events. In a 10-page order issued on January 28, seen by Times Now, the ministry also said that if the national song and the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, are sung or played together, Vande Mataram will be played first, and that the audience shall stand in attention during the singing or playing.The Home Ministry has mandated that a six-stanza version of Vande Mataram, lasting 3 minutes and 10 seconds, be played or sung at a range

of official functions, marking the first time a formal protocol has been prescribed for the national song. The guideline says that the official version of the National Song shall be played on unfurling or the National Flag, parades, ceremonial functions, on the arrival and before the departure of the President at any government or public function.Until now, there was no official guideline governing the rendition of Vande Mataram, unlike the national anthem Jana Gana Mana, which has clearly defined rules regarding its tune, duration and manner of singing.

According to the new guideline, the official version of the National Song should be played on the following occasions: i) Civil Investitures;ii) On arrival of the President at formal State functions and other functions organized by the Government and on his departure from such functions;iii) Immediately before and after the President addresses the Nation over All India Radio and Television;iv) On arrival of the Governor/Lieutenant Governor at formal State functions within his State/Union Territory and on his departure from such functions;v) When the National Flag is brought on parade.

Do Indians Need to Stand Up For Vande Mataram?

The new guideline says, "Whenever the official version of the National Song is sung or played, the audience shall stand to attention." "When in the course of a newsreel o documentary the National Song is played as a part of the film, it is not expected of the audience to stand as standing is bound to interrupt the exhibition of the film and would create disorder and confusion rather than add to the dignity of the National Song." "When the National Song and the National Anthem are sung or played, National Song will be sung or played first."The new guideline says that when Vande Mataram is played by a band, the song will be preceded by a roll of drums to assist the audience to know that the National Song is going to be played.