Ranchi: Even as the country debates the singing of Vande Mataram by Muslim students, a large section of students in Jharkhand is blissfully unaware of the national song.
Jharkhand has made singing of the song mandatory in schools September 7 to mark the culmination of its centennial celebrations even as a section of Muslims has opposed the move on religious grounds.
But a large number of students, particularly tribals, do not know the song or its importance and many of them have not even heard it.
"Vande Mataram? What is that? Is this a song of a movie? I never heard the song in my life," said Vijay Soren of Ghatshila in Jamshedpur district who is a first year college student.
Some students know Vande Mataram as a song made by renowned film music composer A R Rahman, whose album a few years ago featured the national song.
"Yes, I know Rahman and Lata Mangeskar had sung the song," said Ram Hansda of Khuti sub-division of Ranchi.
The Class 11 student said: "I heard the song on television."
Chandrai Soren, a resident of Dumka, said: "In my school Vande Mataram was not a popular song. This is the reason why I have no idea about the song."
When informed that it was the National Song, he said: "Why are you lying? The national song is Jana Gana Mana!"
In Jharkhand, the tribal people comprise 27 per cent of the population.
The literacy rate among tribals is less than 40 per cent compared to the overall rate of 54 per cent.
The ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to recite the song publicly at the Albert Ekka Chawk on September 7.
The Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce has also decided to take part in the singing.
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