I-Day Anthem Chaos: Kozhikode Councillors Clash Over Jana Gana Mana, Vande Mataram
I-Day Anthem Chaos: Kozhikode Councillors Clash Over Jana Gana Mana, Vande Mataram
Independence Day flag-hoisting turned chaotic at Kozhikode Corporation as councillors sang National Anthem and National Song simultaneously. A political clash sparks debate on tradition and protest.
Independence Day celebrations took an unexpected turn at the Kozhikode Corporation in Kerala this past Saturday, witnessing an unusual scene during the flag-hoisting ceremony. What began as a solemn occasion quickly descended into cacophony as two prominent political factions decided to perform the nation's anthems simultaneously.
As Mayor O. Sadasivan concluded his Independence Day address and the flag was hoisted, councillors from the CPI(M)-led ruling front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) began singing "Jana Gana Mana," the national anthem. However, their rendition was soon accompanied by a different tune. Approximately 13 BJP councillors simultaneously started singing the full version of "Vande Mataram," India's national song.
Despite the resulting confusion and an audible clash of songs, both groups persisted. The Mayor and other councillors completed the national anthem and subsequently departed, while the BJP councillors continued with their performance of "Vande Mataram."
Speaking after the event, BJP councillor T. Raneesh stated that the party had informed the Mayor beforehand of their intention to sing "Vande Mataram." He alleged that the simultaneous singing ultimately "disrespected both" national songs. Raneesh defended their action, asserting that there is "nothing wrong with singing the national song during an Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony."
However, Deputy Mayor S. Jayasree sharply criticized the BJP councillors' actions, particularly their decision to sing over the national anthem. She highlighted that the Corporation has a long-standing tradition of singing "Jana Gana Mana" during the ceremony, suggesting that "Vande Mataram" could have been performed afterward without causing disruption.
This incident at Kozhikode unfolds against a backdrop of a wider national conversation. It coincides with the Union government's "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign and the 150th anniversary of "Vande Mataram," with the Union Ministry of Culture having issued directives for related physical events. The clash underscores ongoing political tensions and differing interpretations of national observances.
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