‘Jai Hind’ vs ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jay’: The dirty politics of ‘sloganeering’!

‘Bharat Mata Ki Jay’, the patriotic slogan mainly sung by Hindu warlords in India, suddenly made its way into the newsy columns of media this week. The issue first came to notice in the beginning of March when RSS head Mohan Bhagwat said that the new generation of Indians should be told to chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai.'

Bhagwat without making any reference to the JNU controversy said, “Now the time has come when we have to tell the new generation to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ (hail mother India). It should be real, spontaneous and part of all-round development of the youth. This is necessary as “some forces” are telling the youth not to say “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”.

He may be right in his opinions but forcing words down somebody’s throat is not right at all!

And, the reaction was immediately seen with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi responding to Bhagwat’s comments.

The leader immediately ranted, “I don’t chant that slogan. What are you going to do, (Mohan) Bhagwat sahab,” the Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad said, adding “I won’t utter that (slogan) even if you put a knife to my throat”.

He took a confrontational approach, but retiring Rajya Sabha MP Javed Akhtar chose to follow a melancholy path. He said, “I will not say ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jay’ as the Constitution does not require me to say so. The Constitution even does not ask me to wear sherwani (dress) and topi (cap)... I don’t care to know whether saying ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jay’ is my duty or not, it is my right.” 

Bollywood veteran actor Anupam Kher was not left out from the debate. He insisted, “The only definition of nationalism for Bharatwasis (Indians) should be ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Rest all are escape routes.”

The ‘sloganeering’ once again turned ugly on Thursday, when AIMIM leader Waris Pathan was suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly for an entire session after he reportedly refused to say 'Bharat Mata ki Jay'. 

He maintained, “The Constitution does not say it. We will say Jai Hind. We won’t chant Bharatmata ki Jay.”

So one should start saying ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jay’ to prove his/her patriotism? No, no one should be allowed to bully someone into saying 'Bharat Mata Ki Jay’ or any other slogan.