Nagaland: NSF urges President’s intervention over ‘Vande Mataram’ directive

Dimapur: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu seeking her intervention over what it described as the imposition of the Indian national song Vande Mataram in educational institutions and official functions in Naga-inhabited areas.

The representation, addressed to the President through the Governor of Nagaland, raises concerns about a directive issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs that mandates the playing or singing of the national song during official functions and calls for its compulsory observance in schools.

In the memorandum, the federation said that while the Naga people respect national symbols and the cultural expressions of other communities, attempts to enforce symbolic or cultural practices upon a society with its own distinct traditions and beliefs could raise serious concerns.

The student body noted that certain portions of the revised composition of Vande Mataram contain devotional imagery associated with the worship of a particular deity. It argued that for communities such as the Nagas, whose religious landscape is largely shaped by Christianity, compulsory singing or observance of the song may conflict with deeply held religious beliefs and cultural sensitivities.

The federation emphasized that the Naga homeland has historically been a region where people of diverse faiths and cultures have coexisted peacefully, with temples, mosques, churches and other places of worship functioning freely under a spirit of mutual respect.

According to the memorandum, this environment of harmony has evolved through voluntary respect for diversity rather than through the enforcement of symbolic practices. It cautioned that directives requiring schools to begin the day with the collective singing of the national song or instructing authorities to “popularize” it could undermine this ethos.

The NSF also stated that educational institutions should remain spaces that promote intellectual freedom, democratic values and cultural sensitivity. Making symbolic observances compulsory, it said, risks turning such institutions into platforms of ideological conformity rather than environments that encourage diversity and critical thought.

The federation clarified that its position does not stem from hostility toward India or its cultural traditions but from a desire to safeguard the freedom of conscience and cultural identity of the Naga people.

In its representation, the NSF cited several international legal frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It referred to Article 18 of the declaration, which affirms the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to refrain from practices that may conflict with personal beliefs.

The memorandum also referenced the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), noting that it prohibits coercion that may impair a person’s freedom to adopt or practise a religion or belief of their choice. It further cited Article 27 of the covenant, which guarantees the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities to preserve their culture and practise their faith.

The federation also pointed to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which recognises the rights of indigenous communities to preserve their cultural institutions, traditions and beliefs without external imposition.

Highlighting the distinct historical and political identity of the Naga people, shaped through decades of dialogue and negotiations, the NSF said that policies affecting the region should be framed with sensitivity and consultation with community representatives.

It warned that imposing symbolic practices without such consultation could undermine the principles of democratic governance, federal sensitivity and mutual respect necessary for maintaining peace and harmony in the region.

The memorandum also cited the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, arguing that governments have an obligation to ensure that public policies do not disproportionately affect the cultural or religious identities of minority communities.

In its appeal, the NSF urged the President to consider nullifying or withdrawing the directive mandating the singing or playing of Vande Mataram in educational institutions and official functions in Naga areas.

The federation also called on authorities to ensure that policies are implemented with due regard for the cultural, historical and religious sensitivities of indigenous communities, and appealed for greater dialogue with representatives of the Naga people before introducing measures that could affect the region’s social fabric.

Meanwhile, the NSF said that it, along with thousands of students, church groups, civil society organisations and concerned citizens, recently organised a peaceful public rally to express opposition to the directive.

The federation described the demonstration as a democratic expression aimed at safeguarding the dignity, identity and freedom of conscience of the Naga people rather than an act of hostility toward the Indian state.

Expressing hope that the concerns would receive due consideration, the federation said the memorandum reflects the collective voice of the Naga people seeking to defend their identity while continuing to uphold the principles of peaceful coexistence and democratic engagement.