Date:06/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/06/stories/2006090606321300.htm

National

Deoband: define `Vande' in `Vande Mataram'

Atiq Khan

"If it meant salutation to nation, no objection to reciting the song"

LUCKNOW: Within 24 hours of Darul Uloom Deoband's denial that it had issued a `fatwa' asking Muslim parents not to send their wards to schools on September 7, the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) took another step to further defuse the `Vande Mataram' controversy.

Deoband's denial was in the form of a statement issued by its Chancellor, Maulana Marghoobur Rehman, on Monday.

In what was seen as a step to find a solution to the problem, Vice-Chairman of the AIMPLB, Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, said on Tuesday that if it was proved that the word `Vande' meant salutation, respect or homage to the country, the Muslims would have no objection to recite `Vande Mataram.' However, if the term `Vande' meant worship, then under no consideration would the Muslims recite the song.

He said he would readily say `Jai Hind,' `Bharat Mata ki Jai' and `Sare Jahan Se Achha' but not `Vande Mataram' as `Vande,' derived from the word `vandana,' denoted `puja' (worship).

Addressing a `Meet the Press' programme at the U.P. Press Club, the Maulana said Islam was based on the principle of monotheism (oneness of Allah) and as such no other form of worship was allowed by the Shariat. He said the Muslims were not allowed to even worship "Kaab'a" or Mecca and Medina.

He suggested that a panel of Hindu and Muslim scholars, including Law Board Chairman Maulana Rabey Hasni Nadwi, Maulana Marghoobur Rehman of Deoband and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan should sit together and decide what was the exact meaning of `Vande.'

The Uttar Pradesh Government remained non-committal on issuing directives for compulsory rendition of `Vande Mataram' in schools on September 7. Basic Education Minister Kiran Pal Singh said there was no bar on those who wanted to recite the national song. "But the Government cannot force anyone to recite Vande Mataram if the recitation hurts their religious sentiments. India is a secular country," Mr. Singh told The Hindu from Bulandshahr.

Terming the controversy as a religious problem of the Muslims, Maulana Sadiq said there were 56 Muslim nations in the world but nowhere do their citizens say that they worshipped Saudi Arabia, or Iran or Syria. If it was proved wrong then he would lead the Muslims in the worship of the country, he said.

Blaming the politicians for making an issue out of a non-issue, the Maulana attacked the BJP for politicising the issue. The Maulana felt that the `Vande Mataram' issue should not be accorded much importance as there were other problems confronting the community, the chief being lack of initiative in imbibing the virtues of modern education. The AIMPLB Vice-Chairman stated that Indian madrassas do not produce terrorists, as was the commonly-held view. However, he said the approach of the madrassas should change with more stress on quality education.