2006年VOA标准英语-India Observes Controversial National Song Cent

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
07 September 2006

India has observed the centenary of its national song despite the divisions the celebrations have caused between Hindu nationalists and Muslims, many of whom refuse to sing the song.

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Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon holds the Indian national flag and sings the national song 'Vande mataram', in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006

Students in thousands of schools across India sang the Sanskrit hymn¹ "Vande Mataram" Thursday to mark the centenary year celebrations of the song.

Several top ruling Congress Party leaders and senior leaders of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, also recited the verses on the occasion. But the song was not sung in most Islamic schools in the country, following objections by Muslim leaders.

The song's title means "I bow to thee Mother" and Muslims say it has strong connotations of Hindu deity² worship, and violates their religion. They say their religion forbids them bowing to anything except Allah.

"Vande Mataram" is not the national anthem³. But it was given the status of national song because it was the slogan for freedom fighters across the country during the movement for independence from British rule. But ironically, 100 years later, the song meant to unite the country has created sharp divisions between hard-line Hindu and Muslim groups.

The controversy⁴ erupted last month after the Congress-led government ordered the verse to be chanted in all schools on Thursday to mark the 100 years since its adoption⁵. But after Muslim leaders raised objections, the government reversed the ruling and said its singing would be voluntary.

The decision was slammed by the BJP, which ordered its compulsory⁶ recitation in the five states under its rule. BJP spokesman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, says refusing to sing the song amounts to lack of patriotism⁷.

"Should we respect our symbols or not? And by openly declaring we will not, what kind of message are you going to give for future generations," said Prasad.

On Thursday, many Islamic schools in BJP-ruled states sidestepped the controversy by declaring a holiday.

Others stayed open but did not comply with the order to chant "Vande Mataram". Muslim students at a school in Jaipur told reporters why they could not chant the verses.

The students say their patriotism is not in question, but the song is against their religion.

Another of India's minority groups, the Sikhs, also objected to being pressurized to sing the song. Muslims make up about 13 percent of India's population, while Sikhs constitute two percent.

The controversy surrounding "Vande Mataram" is likely to continue in the months ahead. The BJP plans to make the Muslim community's refusal to sing the song into a major issue in forthcoming elections to three states.

Meanwhile, many in the Hindu majority country are urging both Muslims and Hindus not to mix politics and national symbols.

1 hymn   

n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌

参考例句：

• They sang a hymn of praise to God.他们唱着圣歌，赞美上帝。
• The choir has sung only two verses of the last hymn.合唱团只唱了最后一首赞美诗的两个段落。

2 deity   

n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物)

参考例句：

• Many animals were seen as the manifestation of a deity.许多动物被看作神的化身。
• The deity was hidden in the deepest recesses of the temple.神藏在庙宇壁龛的最深处。

3 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

4 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

5 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

6 compulsory   

n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的

参考例句：

• Is English a compulsory subject?英语是必修课吗？
• Compulsory schooling ends at sixteen.义务教育至16岁为止。

7 patriotism   

n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。