The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), a coalition of prominent Muslim religious bodies in Jammu and Kashmir led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has strongly objected to a government directive mandating the recitation of Vande Mataram in schools. The order, issued by the Department of Culture of the Union Territory, instructs all schools to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the national song through musical and cultural programmes requiring compulsory participation from both students and staff.
In a statement released from Srinagar, the MMU called the directive “coercive, unjust, and un-Islamic”, alleging that it infringes upon the religious beliefs of the Muslim community. “The recent directive issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Government’s Department of Culture, instructing schools across the region to commemorate the 150th year of Vande Mataram through organised musical and cultural programmes ensuring participation of all students and staff, is deeply concerning,” the statement said.
The MMU maintained that reciting or singing Vande Mataram is religiously impermissible for Muslims, as it includes expressions of devotion that, according to Islamic theology, contradict the principle of Tawheed — the absolute oneness of God. “Islam does not permit acts that involve reverence or devotion to anyone or anything other than the Creator,” the Mirwaiz’s office stated on social media.
While acknowledging that Muslims are encouraged to love and serve their homeland, the MMU asserted that such devotion should manifest through positive civic contributions, not through practices perceived to conflict with their faith. “Forcing Muslim students or institutions to participate in activities that conflict with their beliefs is both unjust and unacceptable,” the statement read.
The group also criticised what it described as an attempt to “impose an RSS-driven Hindutva ideology” on a Muslim-majority region under the guise of cultural celebration. It urged the administration, led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to withdraw the directive immediately, saying it had “caused anguish among Muslims” and risked undermining communal harmony.
According to the Union government’s circular, schools across various states have been directed to conduct special assemblies between October 31 and November 7, 2025, to mark the song’s 150th year, with students and teachers singing Vande Mataram. The initiative, part of a larger effort to celebrate India’s cultural heritage, aims to reconnect younger generations with the nation’s independence-era symbolism and the spirit of unity.
However, in Jammu and Kashmir, the order has sparked a broader debate about the intersection of cultural nationalism and religious freedom. Religious groups, including the MMU, argue that national pride must not come at the cost of religious conscience, particularly in a region marked by diverse faith identities.
No official response has yet been issued by the Jammu and Kashmir administration to the MMU’s objections. The government’s directive followed earlier instructions to the education department to organise structured musical events in schools and colleges to honour the song’s legacy.
Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875 and later included in his novel Anandamath, played a pivotal role in India’s freedom struggle. It was formally adopted as the national song in 1947. The current government’s initiative, officials said, is intended to rekindle a sense of national unity and cultural pride among students.
The MMU, however, concluded its statement with a cautionary note, urging authorities to consider the religious sensitivities and pluralistic fabric of Jammu and Kashmir. “True unity,” it said, “comes not through coercion but through respect for diversity.”
