MMU Opposes J&K Govt Directive Mandating Vande Mataram in Schools | Religious Freedom Debate in Kashmir
By: Javid Amin | 05 November 2025
In a statement that has reignited debate over cultural and religious freedom in Jammu and Kashmir, the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU)—an influential coalition of Muslim religious bodies led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq—has strongly condemned a government directive requiring schools to organize Vande Mataram celebrations across the Union Territory.
The circular, issued by the Department of Culture, instructs all educational institutions to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the national song “Vande Mataram” through musical and cultural programs, mandating participation from students and staff alike.
However, the MMU has denounced the move as religiously insensitive and coercive, warning that such directives risk alienating Kashmir’s Muslim-majority community and infringing upon the constitutional right to religious freedom.
MMU’s Objection: “A Matter of Faith, Not Patriotism”
In its detailed statement released in Srinagar, the MMU clarified that its opposition was not a rejection of patriotism or national symbols, but a defense of Islamic principles that prohibit devotional expressions toward any entity other than Allah.
“While Islam encourages Muslims to love, serve, and protect their homeland, such devotion must never compromise Tawheed—the absolute Oneness of Allah,”
the MMU said.
“Reciting or singing Vande Mataram involves phrases that ascribe divine qualities to the nation, which is theologically impermissible for Muslims.”
According to the religious body, the directive effectively forces Muslim students and staff to participate in an act contrary to their faith, turning what could have been a voluntary cultural event into an ideological compulsion.
The MMU’s statement drew a clear distinction between patriotic duty and religious devotion, asserting that “true service to the nation lies in moral conduct, social responsibility, and compassion— not in rituals that conflict with religious beliefs.”
“Imposition of RSS-Driven Ideology,” Says MMU
The MMU went further, characterizing the directive as an attempt to impose a majoritarian ideological agenda under the guise of cultural celebration.
“This order reflects an RSS-driven Hindutva agenda that seeks to redefine patriotism through a single cultural and religious lens,”
the organization asserted, adding that
“such measures contradict India’s secular framework and the plural ethos of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The body warned that the enforced uniformity in cultural expression threatens to erode the region’s delicate communal harmony, particularly at a time when reconciliation and mutual respect are critical.
Appeal to Authorities for Withdrawal
Calling for the immediate revocation of the directive, the MMU urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and the Chief Minister (if reinstated under statehood provisions) to ensure that no student or institution is compelled to act against conscience.
“This directive has caused widespread anguish among the Muslim populace,”
the statement read,
“and if not withdrawn, it risks deepening mistrust and social divides.”
The MMU emphasized that its stance was guided by constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and India’s commitment to pluralism, not by political antagonism.
The Directive: Context and Content
The Department of Culture’s circular, according to officials, aims to commemorate 150 years of the song “Vande Mataram”, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875.
It calls upon schools to conduct music competitions, group performances, and cultural events celebrating the song’s “role in India’s national awakening.”
While the administration defends the move as part of its broader “Cultural Integration and Heritage Awareness Program,” critics argue that compulsory participation infringes on personal belief systems, particularly in a religiously diverse society like Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials in the Education Department, speaking anonymously to local media, claimed the directive was “non-coercive and purely cultural”, but admitted that no opt-out provision was explicitly mentioned.
Background: The Longstanding Debate Around “Vande Mataram”
The controversy surrounding Vande Mataram is not new.
While revered as a national song symbolizing India’s anti-colonial struggle, some of its verses personify the nation as a goddess (Mother Durga)—a theological concept incompatible with Islamic monotheism.
Historically, Muslim scholars and leaders, including Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Muhammad Ali Jauhar, expressed reservations about its recitation in religious contexts, even while endorsing its nationalist spirit.
India’s Constituent Assembly in 1950 ultimately adopted both the National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana) and National Song (Vande Mataram), clarifying that recitation of either was not mandatory.
Despite this, periodic attempts to enforce or normalize the singing of Vande Mataram—in schools, government functions, or public ceremonies—have triggered debates on secularism, minority rights, and cultural nationalism across India.
Religious & Legal Dimensions
Islamic scholars in Kashmir maintain that Vande Mataram’s devotional language—phrases such as “Thou art our mother, O Mother”—amounts to shirk (associating partners with Allah), which is strictly forbidden.
At the same time, India’s Constitution under Article 25 guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess and practice religion.
Legal experts argue that any state-imposed cultural or religious participation must respect this right.
Prominent Srinagar-based constitutional lawyer Adv. Shafqat Nazir told Kashmir In Focus:
“While cultural programs are within the government’s domain, compulsion of participation—especially in acts with theological implications—violates the spirit of secularism enshrined in the Constitution.”
Voices from Civil Society
The government’s directive and MMU’s response have sparked a wave of debate across civil society—educators, activists, and community leaders offering varied perspectives.
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Educationists argue that while cultural awareness is important, religious sensitivity must guide curriculum design in a multi-faith region.
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Rights advocates caution that enforced cultural expressions can lead to exclusion and alienation rather than unity.
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Some Kashmiri Pandit organizations, meanwhile, view the MMU’s opposition as “overreaction,” arguing that Vande Mataram is a national song, not a religious hymn, and should be seen as part of patriotic education.
This multiplicity of views underscores the challenge of balancing national identity with religious pluralism—a tension at the heart of India’s multicultural fabric.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq: “Faith and Patriotism Are Not Opposites”
In his capacity as MMU chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq reiterated that Kashmir’s Muslims have always stood for peace, harmony, and national integrity, but warned against policies that equate patriotism with a single cultural expression.
“Love for one’s country is intrinsic to faith,”
Mirwaiz stated during Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid,
“but coercion in matters of belief is against both Islam and democracy.”
He called upon the government to engage in dialogue with religious and community leaders to find inclusive ways of celebrating national events that do not offend faith sensitivities.
The Broader Implication: Cultural Integration or Cultural Imposition?
Observers note that the issue is emblematic of a larger ideological contest in India: between inclusive nationalism that accommodates diversity and cultural nationalism that seeks uniformity of expression.
In Jammu and Kashmir—still navigating the political aftershocks of Article 370’s abrogation and statehood revocation—such directives acquire additional sensitivity.
Many local voices see them as part of a top-down integration model, while others perceive them as nation-building exercises aimed at fostering unity.
Either way, the method of implementation—especially mandating participation—is what has drawn the sharpest criticism.
Conclusion: The Need for Dialogue and Sensitivity
The Vande Mataram controversy in Kashmir once again highlights the delicate balance between national integration and religious freedom.
While the government’s intent to promote cultural awareness may be administratively valid, the execution through compulsion risks undermining the very harmony it seeks to promote.
The MMU’s stand—rooted in theological conviction rather than political defiance—reflects a community’s desire for respect and inclusion in decisions affecting its faith and identity.
As Kashmir continues to transition through political, cultural, and social change, dialogue—not diktat—remains the only sustainable path toward a plural, peaceful, and participatory society.
