The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), an alliance of prominent religious organisations and scholars in Jammu and Kashmir, has strongly opposed a government directive asking schools to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. The group, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, called the move an attempt to “impose RSS-driven Hindutva ideology” on the Muslim-majority region under the guise of cultural celebration.
In a statement issued in Srinagar, the MMU said the order from the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Culture, which directs schools to hold musical and cultural programs featuring Vande Mataram, was “coercive, unjust, and un-Islamic.” The religious body urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to withdraw the order immediately.
“This directive has caused deep anguish among Muslims of the region, who are reaching out to the religious leadership to take up this serious concern,” the statement said. “Forcing Muslim students or institutions to participate in activities that conflict with their faith is both unjust and unacceptable.”
The government’s circular instructed schools to organise special assemblies and performances between October 31 and November 7 as part of the 150th-anniversary celebrations. The Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir had earlier chaired a meeting to ensure participation of schools across the Union Territory, saying student involvement was “crucial for wider outreach.”
The MMU argued that Vande Mataram contains expressions of reverence inconsistent with Islamic teachings, particularly the belief in Tawheed, or the oneness of God. “Reciting or singing Vande Mataram involves acts of devotion not permitted in Islam,” the group said, adding that Islam encourages patriotism through service, compassion, and contribution to society, not through practices that contradict faith.
The organisation further alleged that the directive was part of a larger ideological push. “The order appears to be a deliberate attempt to impose an RSS-inspired Hindutva ideology on a Muslim-majority region, rather than promoting genuine unity and respect for diversity,” it said.
The MMU’s statement said that Muslims have always shown love for their country through positive actions and social responsibility. However, compelling participation in religiously sensitive activities, it said, violated the principles of freedom and respect.
“MMU urges the administration to withdraw this coercive directive, which has caused distress to Muslims, and ensure that no student or institution is compelled to act against their beliefs,” the statement read.
So far, there has been no official response from the Jammu and Kashmir administration regarding the MMU’s appeal.
Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, became a rallying song during India’s freedom struggle and was later adopted as the national song.
