[GJM] Vande Matram : Maha Rana Pratap vis-à-vis Man Singh : Dr.M.K. Sherwani

Wed Sep 6 18:07:24 MDT 2006

        Dear Dr Sherwani,

  The foul language and hatred vomited by you does not befit your position. Vande Matram is the National Song of India, as part of the Indian Constitution, duly passed by the Constitution Assembly of India, irrespective of its historical or religious interpretation as claimed by certain muslims.

  All muslims in India had a choice to stay in India or move to Pakistan, a land demanded and granted for the muslims of the unpartitioned India. Muslims who did not subscribe to Vande Matram in the Constitution for religious reasons, being the National Song of India, had a choice to migrate to Pakistan. Those who chose to stay in India  subscribed to the decision of the Constituent Assembly.

  I cannot fathom that citizens of India can show disrespect to the National Song and still claim to be honourable citizens of India. Today it is National Song, tomorrow it could be the National Anthem, and later the National flag!! Where do we draw the line, and on what basis? 

  In a secular state, religion does not take precedence over National Symbols. National symbols are to be respected by all Indians, and they belong to everybody who claim to be Indian citizens. Whether or not a person in his/her private capacity sings the national song or not is up to him/her; but if a law exists that all school children must sing the national song, that law has to be obeyed, Period. You are entitled to and welcome to oppose the compulsory singing of the National Song, but you have no right to abuse those who want to sing it, and make it compulsory for all, for patriotic reasons of their own. However, you must realise that as government officials or public servants, such choices also do not exist. All public servants must respect the constitution, follow the laws and the rules or quit.

  Are you saying that muslims who insist on not singing Vande Matram, should not serve the public of India? Are you not, then, doing a great diservice to the muslim community of India. Let individual muslims decide on their own, who want to sing it or not. Do not impose religious fatwas on those 'patriotic' muslims who choose to sing the National Song,  because it is part of the Indian Constitution. 

  As far as the children are concerned, it is time that old hatreds and prejudices are not bred in them. It is for the parliament and Individual State Governments to decide if singing of Vande Matram is to be made compulsory in all schools, in only recognised schools, or in only government run schools. Muslim parents who do not want their children to sing Vande Matram for religious reasons, will then have to make a choice of the type and mode of education their children receive, and how such children will be viewed by the rest of India. What will be their future?
  Will it help them in their development as good Indian citizens? Will they not get isolated from the rest of India? The fact remains that over 80% of India is non-muslim. 

  These are issues which need to be reflected on seriously but calmly. There is no need for vituperative comments.

  Lt.Col Rajendra Kumar Aggarwala(ret)
  Faculty & Director GIS/GPS Labs(ret)
  University of Michigan
  USA

Sherwani Mustafa <sherwanimk at yahoo.com> wrote:   

Vande Matram : Maha Rana Pratap vis-à-vis Man Singh
: Dr. M.K. Sherwani

It is most unfortunate that at the time when
India is struggling hard to emerge as a global force,
a negligible segment of its society –better called
the progeny of Nathoo Ram Godse – who tore the
country’s secular fabric on December, 6,1992, are
once again making an abominable demonstration of
their anti-national activities by spreading communal
hatred in the name of ‘VANDE MATRAM’. Knowing fully
that they have been rejected by the vast multitude of
Indian masses ,including the hard core hindutwa
brigade as a potential threat to the nation’s secular
credentials, the BJP and its allied outfits are
making a desperate attempt to retrieve its lost
image. Needless to say that this time they owe much
to Mr. Arjun Singh who has provided to them a new
pasture land to graze. 
The compulsory recital of ‘ Vande Matram’,
there is not the slightest doubt, stands in total
contradistinction with Muslims’ monotheistic religious
beliefs, the protection of which has been
unequivocally guaranteed by the Constitution of India
under Article, 25. As such, those who are launching a
provocative diatribe against Muslims are the worst
enemies of Indian Constitution, its judicial system,
secular values and the centuries old composite 
cultural legacy . It reflects the mental bankruptcy of
these fascist forces when they project a few Muslims
as the supporters of ‘Vande Matram’, and on that basis
seek to challenge the ‘Muslimhood’ or the ‘patriotism’
of those who are opposing it as un-Islamic.
If belonging to the same community may be the
standard for judging the uniformity in actions, I
fail to understand why ‘MAHA RANA PRATAP’ is regarded
as a national hero and his close relation ‘RAJA MAN
SINGH’ is discarded as an indelible blot on the
dignity of ‘Rajputs’. I for myself abhor Man Singh and
salute ‘MAHA RANA PRATAP’ and ‘SHIVAJI’ for their
convictions, bravery and gallantry. They had to suffer
worst sorts of trials and tribulations but remained
stuck to their principles and did not compromise their
conscience and dignity in exchange for the power and
luxuries of life.
As a part of its ugly nefarious game plan, the
BJP is using the names of ‘so-called Muslims like
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Shah Nawaz Khan. Once upon a
time, it was Sikander Bakht who was projected as a
specimen of Indian Muslims. Likewise, Akbar had also
nurtured Raja Man Singh as an antidote to Rajput
glory.
Let me tell these BJP’s Muslim buffoons – Mukhtar
Abbar Naqvi and Shah Nawaz Khan- that they are just
like ‘CHEAP QUALITY USE-AND- THROW NAPKINS’ whom
nobody will be ready even to pick up from the
streets. For Muslims, the Constitution of India is the
sacrosanct document. India belongs to them, and they
consider its each particle as sacred. India is not
the legacy of the grandfathers of those who are
asking Muslims to leave the country for defying the
compulsory recital of ‘Vande Matram’ as un-Islamic.

Dr. Mustafa Kamal Sherwani
3, Sherwani Nagar, Sitapur Road, Lucknow, India
Former President, All India Muslim Forum

Presently, Ag. Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Zanzibar University, ZANZIBAR
Republic of Tanzania.

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