When India and Pakistan play a match against each other in any sport, everybody stands out of respect for the national anthems of both nations. That does not imply adherence to the ideologies these anthems represent. This is the case with all nations that are represented on an international forum of any kind.
The same should be the case with respecting India’s national song, Vande Matram. All should stand out of respect. They may even sing the first two stanzas they align with. The rest of the time they can stand silent when the newly reinstated ‘idolatrous’ content is sung. Just as the Pakistanis do not object to the inclusion of ‘Sindh’ in the Indian anthem.
But, of course, the insistence of the Congress to reject the complete version of Vande Matram has little to do with any sincere concern about inclusion and secularism. It is all about projecting their deep love for the Muslim vote, which other ideological cousins have lured into their vote banks – and even worse, is increasingly attracted to ‘non-secular’ parties like the AIMIM. How deep this love runs was exhibited by MP Sonia Gandhi’s performance at the Congress Independence Day ‘celebration’. Time will tell whether this approach brings in the ‘minority’ votes.
In light of the ‘disregard’ for Hindu sentiments, it is only natural for the BJP to try and make political capital out of this ‘revelation’ of the Congress Party’s character and ideology. However, if it is to succeed, the narrative has to be more subtle and relatable to the average Indian. This is, perhaps, the most important lesson it should learn from the Gen Z protest. No, it has nothing to do with adopting the vocabulary. The psychology of new and emerging India has to be understood and arguments shaped accordingly.
If developments within the BJP are anything to go by, there does seem to be a growing realisation in this regard, which is reflected in the rejig that has taken place in the organisational structure. There has to be greater sophistication in the political pitch instead of the mohalla style identity reiteration. The content may largely be the same, but it has to be served in the idiom of the present. A connection has to be made between the imagined and the reality. Mere repetition of what the government has achieved is not enough. That is already being taken for granted. The goalposts need to be shifted so that they draw the interest of an increasingly demanding society. The BJP and Congress should realise that the old tricks no longer work that well.
