The West Bengal state government has directed all state-run and aided schools to make the singing of 'Vande Mataram' compulsory during daily morning assemblies [1].
This policy shift marks a significant change in the state's educational protocol by replacing a previous mandate to sing the state anthem, 'Banglar Mati Banglar Jal' [1]. The move aligns state school practices with national directives and reflects a shift in the cultural priorities of the current administration [2].
The School Education Department issued the directive to ensure the national song is performed at every morning prayer assembly across the state [1]. Officials said the mandate is intended to honor a call from the Union Home Ministry made in January to commemorate the 150th anniversary [2] of 'Vande Mataram'.
By making the song mandatory, the government is centering a national symbol within the daily routine of students across all state-run and aided institutions [1]. The directive replaces the earlier requirement for the state anthem, a move that shifts the focus from regional identity to national heritage [2].
Under the new rules, schools must integrate the song into their existing assembly structures immediately [1]. The decision follows the Union Home Ministry's effort to mark the sesquicentennial of the composition [2].
“The West Bengal state government has directed all state-run and aided schools to make the singing of 'Vande Mataram' compulsory.”
This directive represents a transition from regionalist cultural markers to nationalist symbols in West Bengal's public education system. By replacing the state anthem with a national song, the government is synchronizing state-level educational practices with the Union Home Ministry's broader national commemorative goals.
