Congress Rule (1937-1939)
Congress Rule (1937-1939)
Vande Mataram (Vande Mātaram, also spelt Bande Mataram; I praise you, Motherland) is a
poem written in Sanskrit by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the 1870s.
The poem was first published in 1882 as part of Chatterjee's Bengali novel Anandmath. It is an
ode to the motherland, personified as the "mother goddess" in later verses, of the people.
This initially referred to Bengal, with the "mother" figure therefore being Banga Mata (Mother
Bengal), though the text does not mention this explicitly.
Nonetheless, the poem played a vital role in the Indian independence movement. By 1905, it had
become a popular amongst political activists and freedom fighters as a marching song. [16] The
song, as well as Anandmath, were banned under British colonial rule under threat of
imprisonment, making its use revolutionary.
Congress made singing of the song was made compulsory before the start of official
business day.
Muslims found the song objectionable . T hey felt worshipping a mother was a n un-islamic
practice and more generally because they found the poem's other cultural impulses to be
Hindu.
Wardha Scheme:
A Basic Education scheme was launched by Gandhi at Wardha, in Maharashtra. This was
later known as the Wardha Taaleem Scheme. It was introduced in all Congress education
ministries.
Teaching was to be in Hindi with no religious education, which meant that Muslim students
were at a disadvantage (language barrier).
School children were required to show devotion for Gandhi's portrait by bowing to it.
This instruction was sent to Urdu schools attended by Muslim boys, by a local board in the
central provinces. The Muslims thus felt that their Religious, language, identity. & culture was
being undermined. Their children were being swäyed from their Muslim ideology.
Congress Tyranny: (scattered incidences, not very wide spread) :
Some Congress Leaders even stated that they would take revenge from the Muslims for
their 700 years of slavery.
Hindi became the official language and Deva Nagri the official script.
Congress flags flew from public buildings.
The Congress flag was given the status of a national flag.
The slaughtering of cows was prohibited. Muslims were forbidden to eat beef and received
harsh punishments if they slaughtered cows.
Muslims were not allowed to construct new Mosques. Hindus would play drums in front of
Mosques when Muslims were praying. Sometimes pigs were pushed inside mosques.
There were instances of arson against Muslim property.
Vidya Mandir: