As the country remained adaptive to various cultures, which came to our homeland, India assimilated them and provided the base to nurture each individual and emerge as a true Indian. The bond between these different religions further strengthened when, the countrymen united as one, to struggle in a bid to get independence from the British rule.

 

When we glance into the history, we acknowledge the fact that the result of attaining independence, was not because of any single religion but because of Indians - Hindus and Muslims together, who proved their patriotism towards their native land in the purest form.

 

The recent controversy over the national song “Vande Mataram” shows the change in mentality from the previous time. The song that was then sung in praise of “Bharatmata”, whom we as Indians praise and worship, is a gesture to respect motherland. It is treated above all religions with heads held high.

 

India has been facing a lot of internal problems due to terrorism, naxalite movements, economic slowdown, poverty, natural calamity, political instability etc. With so many blazing issues, there is no need to place importance on the fatwa issued by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, which had recently asked Muslims not to recite the Vande Mataram.

 

The issue, which was resolved 50 years ago, has come back to the limelight, only implies that we are morally shattering ourselves and the coming generation, by raising petty issues.

 

The fatwa tries to make Muslims imbibe the fact that, the song is against religion, but does not provide any concrete reason for it. As an educated and elite Muslim, I ask myself, how can singing a patriotic song dampen my spirit of being a true Muslim. Am I that frail that, a national song will decide my existence as a true Muslim? Islam has been a part of this land for ages now and praising a motherland is not a sin in any religion.

 

The controversy has taken a political turn, with each party expressing their views in coarse language and trying to woo the countrymen in their favour. They are fuelling the controversy, with even the right wing BJP not far behind.

 

All rational Indians, whatever be their religion, have sense to know that praising a motherland is not against any religion and their ideology is above the petty issues, which are time and again raised by the so called erudite scholars, in the name of religion.