The newly elected Suvendu Adhikari-led West Bengal government recently announced that Vande Mataram will be sung in government schools across the state. Private schools have also been requested to follow the directive.
“It is hereby ordered that, in supersession of all previous orders and practices, the singing of Vande Mataram during assembly prayers, prior to the commencement of classes, is hereby made mandatory in all schools under the School Education Department across the state of West Bengal, with immediate effect.” read the order.
While some government and private schools have already received the circular, others are yet to receive it. Schools were initially scheduled to reopen on May 18, but the state education department has now extended the summer vacation till May 31.
“School will reopen on June 1. Vande Mataram will be sung in the morning assembly from June 1 itself in compliance with the order,” said Ajanta Mukherjee, Principal of Beltala Girls High School, a government-sponsored school.
Some private schools are yet to receive the circular but have indicated that they will comply with the order.
“We will be implementing it, but we have not yet received the circular,” said Samita Pincha, headmistress of BSS School.
Before the current directive, government schools during the TMC regime sang the state song Banglar Maati, Banglar Joi along with the national anthem. The state song had been introduced in government schools in November last year.
Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in West Bengal on November 7, 1875, with the aim of inspiring nationalism. It was adopted as the national song of India in 1950.
During a speech in the Lok Sabha marking the 150th year of Vande Mataram in December 2025, a political debate over the national song resurfaced after the Trinamool Congress criticised the BJP over Prime Minister Narendra Modi referring to the creator of Vande Mataram, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, as “Bankim Da”.
TMC MP Saugata Roy objected to the reference and asked the Prime Minister not to call him “Bankim Da” but “Bankim Babu” instead. Other TMC leaders also criticised the BJP over the issue. The BJP, however, dismissed the controversy, with PM Modi continuing to describe Vande Mataram as the pride of West Bengal during his election campaign speeches.