Vande Mataram: A Needless Controversy

Nice article. Pretty much sums up the whole thing. there is absolutely no issue there.

Article misses the point. If vande mataram is unacceptable for religious reasons, then what do the mullahs deem acceptable? which patriotic song will they endorse?

Read the article carefully. Muslims haven't objected to the singing of the national anthem.

Nobody associating muslims patriotism with singing the song. But people are objecting some people who are opposing this song. Yes,It is not mondatory,but why to give fatwa against it, it is also a national song? and who gave that authority to that "body" to give fatwa against a national song, which is respected by most of the Indians? what happend if some school or college want to make it mandatory to sing that song?

First fatwa means "Opinion". It is not religious order as most people think. Second Muslims are not governed by Mullah unlike Hindu who are more or less governed by sadhus.A Mullahs opinion need not be followed as religious Diktats.

No Muslim has any objection to the song, the only doubt is wat does vande mean? If it means respect then muslims respect motherland more than required. If it is bowing to motherland then it contradicts ou faith which is not at all acceptable. Its similar to say since we live in a cold country and only beef is made here so all people irrespective of faith shd eat beef. Will hindus accept tat?

moreover I take the meanin as respect and listen to the song (Rahmanized version) many times.

@lomi
"...unlike Hindu who are more or less governed by sadhus"

well, there must be a limit even for imagination i must say.

Coming to fatwa,I know fatwa means opinion, but it's credibility depends upon the person who gives it. If that person is respected and accepted by most it may become a rule. That's why i am asking in a democratic country, where there is no islamic law, who gave him the right to give 'fatwa'?

Giving examples to support your answer is an efficient method, but somtimes they misleads. Suppose take this example, there is a religion "A" which makes madatory for it's followers to support their fellow followers irrespective of the reason. Then what happend some country called 'B' following religion 'A' attacks the coutry he live. Should he support the soldiers of 'B' because his religion mandates to support them. If religion is more important than country, he must support.isn't it?

I just want to say, when it comes to country, it is better to keep the religion aside.

@srikanth:
"...unlike Hindu who are more or less governed by sadhus"

I know most hindus if not all visit a sadhu or a whoeve u call it fr wateva decision (like marriage, job, blessings etc) u wanna make. If tat is not governed then wat is it?

Noone needs to give anyone right to give fatwa. If u say fatwa is illegal then its no more democracy my dear friend.

Finally comin to ur example. Its very confusin. Anyways the crux of the matter is religion is not somethin like a designer wear to keep it aside. Its like sayin bring only ur hands and legs to the meetin, keep ur brains at home. Its inseperable part of u. By religion I dont mean wat u will be thinkin. Religion is nuthin but a principle. How can u lead a life without principles. Since u live in india follow country's principles, keep religion aside.
Foolish!!

The thing is most hindus dont follow any religion(principles). U can find 100's of variants of hinduism religion (principle). Some hindu scholar will say u cant eat meat, some will say u can. Some will say u shd not drink alcohol, some different. In short they are agnostic. So they search fr principles in country, sadhus, bigger than god image of a mortal being. tats the whole problem. They expect muslims shd also be same like them which is again bit foolish.

@lomi

If that is the meaning of governance, then you are right, some Hindus do that. But i must say Muslims also do this. Especially some one will give fatwa against something or someone.

Ex: fatwa on satanic verses and fatwa on Taslima Nasrin. You told that Muslims are not governed by mullah's but we all know what happened to Taslima in our so-called secular country. Muslims too follows the so-called opinions given by mufti( The person who is eligible to give fatwa).

It is still a democratic country friend. Because, there is a limit for everything, even to give fatwas. If some idiot give fatwa against national anthem in future, then what? Do we simply say that is just an opinion? If some idiot say something bad about Islam and say, it is just my opinion, then what? do you sit silently?

Coming to your #9 post. Now it become Hindu Vs Muslim Issue. It just an idiotic attempt. I like to restrain myself to enter into that.

Bye.

FYI:

http://islam.about.com/cs/divisions/f/shia_sunni.htm

http://middleeast.about.com/od/religionsectarianism/a/me070907sunnis.htm

Hmmm look who is talkin? It was u my dear friend who started it. Look thru ur #4 post. I was just answerin u.

I request the moderator/admin to delete most of the comments posted here.

sandeep, I cannot delete comments simply because the conversation is not going how you'd wish. get in there and redirect the conversation! :)

I will remind people to use appropriate language, though, and if you cannot, I will begin my editorial @$$ whooping.

Keep it civil or cut it out. And stay on topic.

Giving fatwa's as you say is a stupid act. But
the genesis of Vande Mataram in Anand Math is anything but noncontroversial. It is filled with hatred against the Muslims. The author uses strong invectives in describing Muslims and their King.

I wouldn't blame the Muslims if they chose to not sing this song. Their patriotism should not be questioned on that account. Singing or not singing the song is an individual's choice and should not be controlled by illiterate mullahs.

Uhhh mod,
Why I am havin two counts. Its the same me lomi only frm my home and work.

The counter tracks both name and IP address

It is a beautiful song, and for those who don't mind the "Hindu connotations" the song can actually take you to a different plane altogether.

Translation Of the entire song by Shree Aurobindo

Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.

Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.

Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nervs the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.

Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair

In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Lovilest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!

Lomi said in comment#5: "Muslims are not governed by Mullah unlike Hindu who are more or less governed by sadhus"

Lomi, dear friend, I don't know if I should pity you for that statement of yours or laugh at you! The entire debacle in Pakistan, the sorry state of affairs in Islamic countries - are due to the Mullahs who want to intervene in the Political Regimes of those countries and lay down Islamic laws!

If you are so much in favour of fatwas, remember that in Afghanistan a fatwa was issued not long ago by Islamic Fanatics (the Taliban) against listening to Music (which they said is Haram under Islam).

So be happy that you can enjoy atleast the Rahmanized version of any song in this country where Fatwas is deemed undemocratic.

Your intent in dragging the Hindu sadhus into all this in a demeaning way was mischievous (to say the least). Not that I am a big fan of Sadhus, most of them are fake to the best of my knowledge.

But perhaps you are talking about Gurus whom Hindus consult. To this, I want to ask you: how can you criticize any act of a community without knowing anything about it. (It is very common in India and even at desicritic to criticize Islam without knowing much about it, so friend take solace that you are not the only one!)

For people like you, to bridge this gap of ignorance which only festers hate and intolerance in the form of ridicule, I am posting a new article : The Value of Surrender.

Hope it enlightens you, and you stop spitting malicious comments around.

Adios!
Golden Boy
Adios!

If I reply to u. Even if its the most convincin and correct statement, it will be useless. As it will ultimately lead to nothing and even if ur mind says yes, ur heart will say no. As u surrender ur mind to some crap things. Moreover audience (most audience) here will think I am fanatic. So I choose not to reply.

Good choice, Lomi!
Adios!
Golden Boy

@lomi
Lol, what's that "convincing and correct" statement dear. try in this forum there are many people who can understand that.