The West Bengal government has mandated the singing of the national song "Vande Mataram" before classes begin in all state-run and state-aided madrasas [1].
This directive extends an existing school requirement to religious institutions, signaling a push for standardized patriotic observance across the state's educational landscape [2].
Minister Suvendu Adhikari led the initiative to implement the requirement across the region [1]. The government issued a formal notification stating that the singing of the national song is now mandatory before classes start in these institutions [1].
Officials said the move is intended to promote national unity [2]. By requiring the song, the administration aims to integrate madrasas more fully into the broader educational framework of the state [2].
Madrasas that receive state funding, or are managed by the government, must now comply with the order. The policy ensures that the patriotic exercise previously reserved for general schools is now a requirement for students in these specific religious centers [2].
“The West Bengal government has issued a formal notification making it mandatory to sing the national song before classes begin.”
This policy represents a significant shift in the oversight of religious education in West Bengal. By mandating a nationalistic song in madrasas, the government is asserting state authority over the cultural and civic practices within religious schools to align them with secular state schools.
