Kolkata, 21 May (H.S.) : The West Bengal government has made the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ compulsory during morning assembly prayers in all government-run, aided and recognised madrasahs across the state with immediate effect.

The decision was confirmed by Khudiram Tudu, who holds the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education portfolio in the BJP-led state government headed by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Speaking on the matter, Tudu said that if the national song is mandatory in all other state-run schools, including institutions where Santali is the medium of instruction, there should be no exception for recognised madrasahs.

Following the announcement, the West Bengal Directorate of Madrasah Education issued an official notification directing all government model madrasahs, recognised aided madrasahs, approved MSKs, approved SSKs and recognised unaided madrasahs under the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department to ensure compulsory singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ before the commencement of classes.

The order stated that the directive supersedes all previous practices and has been issued with the approval of the competent authority. Officials indicated that institutions failing to comply with the new regulation could face administrative action.

Earlier this month, the state School Education Department had also issued a similar order making the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ mandatory in all schools under the department across West Bengal.

The notification, shared by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on his official social media handle, described ‘Vande Mataram’ as the national song of Bharat and directed all schools to include it in assembly prayers before classes begin.

The latest move is being seen as part of the new state government’s broader push to introduce uniform practices across educational institutions in West Bengal.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh