The Supreme Court’s recent observation that a person who respectfully chooses not to sing one or all stanzas of Vande Mataram should not face criminal prosecution raises an important question about the limits of enforcing patriotism.
The observation came while hearing Carnatic vocalist T M Krishna’s challenge to the 2026 amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, which provides for punishment for intentionally preventing the singing of the National Anthem or National Song, or disrupting an assembly engaged in such singing. The court also referred to its 1986 Bijoe Emmanuel judgment, which protected the rights of students who respectfully declined to sing the National Anthem on grounds of conscience. The Supreme Court’s observation should remind political leaders that patriotism cannot be measured simply by whether someone sings a particular patriotic song. India is a diverse country, and its citizens have different religious, cultural and personal beliefs. Respecting the Constitution, religious diversity and the dignity of fellow citizens is as important as singing patriotic songs. National unity is strengthened through mutual respect and equality, not by compelling citizens to demonstrate patriotism in a prescribed manner.
JERRY FERNANDES, Saligao
