MZP opposes ‘Vande Mataram’ in Mizoram schools

Aizawl: Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Mizoram’s apex students’ organisation, on Monday opposed proposals to make the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ mandatory in educational institutions, saying the move would be inappropriate and insensitive to the socio-religious realities of the Christian-majority state.

At a press conference in Aizawl, MZP said the idea of introducing daily singing or playing of the national song in schools and colleges, as well as at official functions, needed reconsideration. It said educational institutions should remain spaces for learning and intellectual growth, not platforms for practices it said were unrelated to academic development.


The organisation criticised the introduction of such measures without meaningful consultation, arguing that directives that do not directly contribute to educational objectives should not be imposed on students and academic establishments. It said it would oppose any attempt to use educational institutions for purposes it perceives as politically driven or religiously motivated.

MZP urged the Mizoram govt, the education department and heads of institutions not to hastily implement any directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs requiring students to sing or listen to ‘Vande Mataram’. It asked authorities to consider Mizoram’s cultural and religious context before enforcing such measures, and said the government should assess the state’s position within the Indian Union and adopt a clear stance before allowing any directive to take effect.

Reiterating its role in safeguarding Mizo identity, culture and traditions, the MZP said educational institutions should not become arenas for the propagation of political ideologies or the imposition of religious symbolism.

MZP leaders also said ‘Vande Mataram’ contains Bengali phrases and references, including imagery associated with temple worship, which they said may not resonate with many people in Mizoram where Christianity is the dominant faith.

As an alternative, the organisation suggested promoting songs reflecting the cultural and spiritual identity of the state. It cited the Mizoram Legislative Assembly’s practice of singing or playing the hymn “Ro Min Rel Sak Ang Che”, which praises the Living God, and urged authorities to explore allowing such songs to be sung or played in educational institutions.

Meanwhile, the Naga Students’ Federation has also expressed similar reservations, saying attempts to enforce the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ in educational institutions overlook the cultural and religious diversity of the Northeast.