There is always a shortage of nationalism in our country, because there seems to be so much demand for it. In all of my decades I had not known of a demand for Vande Mataram to be tagged on to the national anthem but now we are told this is to be the case.

There are six stanzas to the song which will have to be memorised for those of us who do not know them. The recitation will have to be 3 minutes and 10 seconds long, as the ministry of home affairs has ordered. It is unclear in the orders whether this singing is voluntary (like Aadhaar) or compulsory (also like Aadhar).

This confusion arises from the wording. The ministry of home affairs tells us that ‘it is not possible to give an exhaustive list of occasions on which the singing — as opposed to the playing — of official version of National Song can be permitted’, but it helpfully adds that ‘there is no objection to the singing… as long as it is done with due respect’.

There are no guidelines on what constitutes due respect but we will no doubt find out soon what constitutes violation. The more nationalistic among us will educate those who are less so.

Why I say it is unclear whether it is voluntary or not is because the order adds that ’the National Song may be sung on........

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