Debate With Arnab: Government Makes Vande Mataram's 6 Stanzas Mandatory

The Union Home Ministry has issued strict new guidelines requiring all six stanzas of Vande Mataram to be sung at government events, schools, and official functions, marking a bold push to revive the national song's complete form first penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1882. This 3-minute-10-second rendition must precede Jana Gana Mana, with attendees standing in attention to honor its role in India's freedom struggle—correcting decades of abbreviated versions since the Nehru era.

Exemptions apply only to cinemas to prevent disruptions, but the protocol standardizes patriotism across public platforms amid the song's 150th anniversary celebrations.

Opposition parties and minority groups decry it as cultural overreach, reigniting J&K-style protests labeling the lyrics "un-Islamic," while BJP hails it as overdue national pride restoration. Debate with Arnab dives into this clash, featuring live expert panels, caller reactions, and questions if full compliance fosters unity or divides faiths.