Archive · 16 Aug 2026
'New Kerala' Skips Vande Mataram, Backs Dissent and Dialogue
India celebrates its Independence Day every year on August 15.
This year, Kerala, a state in India, held its big celebration at a stadium.
The central government of India had asked everyone to sing a song called Vande Mataram, which is a famous national song.
But Kerala did not sing it during the event.
Some leaders from Kerala said their state usually sings only the first two parts of the song, so they kept to their old tradition.
Kerala's chief minister, V.D. Satheesan, gave a speech at the event.
He said democracy means people can ask questions and disagree, and that this is a good thing.
He asked everyone to treat all people fairly and kindly, no matter their background.
He also remembered people who lost their lives in recent floods and landslides in Kerala.
At the end, he asked everyone to help build a caring and tolerant 'new Kerala.'
Kerala skipped Vande Mataram at its Independence Day event despite a Centre directive urging the full national song.
Chief minister V.D. Satheesan's address championed democracy, dissent, open dialogue, secularism and a 'new-era Kerala.'
Congress leaders K. Muraleedharan and Rajmohan Unnithan said only the first two stanzas would be sung, in keeping with tradition.
Without naming him, Satheesan condemned a caste-based humiliation of senior national leader Mallikarjun Kharge.
He invoked Gandhi, Ambedkar, Nehru and Azad, praised politically conscious youth, and honoured victims of Kerala's recent landslides and floods.
- Who
- Kerala chief minister V.D. Satheesan and the Kerala government, with Congress leaders K. Muraleedharan and Rajmohan Unnithan; chief secretary Biswanath Sinha forwarded the Centre's circular.
- What
- Kerala's Independence Day celebrations proceeded without Vande Mataram, while the chief minister's speech defended democracy, dissent and constitutional values.
- When
- Independence Day, Saturday, August 15.
- Where
- Central Stadium in Kerala.
- Why
- The state followed its tradition of a partial rendition of the national song despite the Centre's directive, and the chief minister used the occasion to back dissent and dialogue.
Kerala government
Centre and supporters of its directive
Vande Mataram rendition
Kerala government
Kerala followed its tradition of singing only the first two stanzas and skipped the full rendition despite the directive.
Centre and supporters of its directive
The Centre's circular urged all government bodies to sing the full version of the national song, expecting uniform compliance.
Dissent and dialogue in democracy
Kerala government
Satheesan argued dissent, questioning, open dialogue and correction rejuvenate democracy, which should not demand that everyone share the same beliefs.
Centre and supporters of its directive
The directive implies government bodies should follow the Centre's uniform instructions on national symbols even during state events.
- Event
- Independence Day celebration
- Location
- Central Stadium, Kerala
- Date
- Saturday, August 15 (Independence Day)
- National song
- Vande Mataram skipped; Centre had directed the full version
- Chief minister
- V.D. Satheesan
- Chief secretary
- Biswanath Sinha
- Congress leaders on tradition
- K. Muraleedharan and Rajmohan Unnithan said only the first two stanzas would be sung
- Parade led by
- IPS officer O. Aparna