Naga Students Rally Against Mandatory Singing of Vande Mataram

In Kohima, thousands rallied under the Naga Students' Federation banner to oppose a central directive mandating the singing of Vande Mataram in schools and official functions. Protesters expressed concerns over cultural rights and the imposition of practices that conflict with their beliefs. The NSF delivered a memorandum to the President, urging dialogue before implementing such policies. The protest highlighted the need for educational institutions to remain spaces for intellectual freedom rather than platforms for enforced compliance. Various organizations supported the rally, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding Naga cultural and religious sensitivities.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 16, 2026, 16:05 IST

Protest Against Central Directive in Kohima

On March 16, a significant number of students and residents gathered in Kohima, organized by the Naga Students' Federation (NSF), to protest against the central government's order requiring the singing of Vande Mataram at official events and in schools.

The demonstrators carried signs with messages such as “MHA’s January 28 directive is an assault on secularism,” “Naga rights are non-negotiable,” “Stop forced policies,” and “The directive is a direct attack on our faith,” as they marched from Kohima Town to Lok Bhavan.

NSF president Mteisuding Heraang addressed the crowd, emphasizing that the rally represents a unified stand against any attempts to dictate the identity and beliefs of the Naga people through administrative orders.

He clarified that the protest is not aimed at any nation or community but is a response to the imposition of practices that contradict the people's conscience.

The protesters also delivered a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu via the Governor of Nagaland.

In this memorandum, the NSF requested the withdrawal of the directive mandating the singing or playing of Vande Mataram in official and educational settings within the Naga region.

They called for discussions with Naga representatives before implementing policies that could disrupt the cultural and social dynamics of the area.

The memorandum highlighted that the revised version of Vande Mataram includes devotional imagery linked to the worship of a specific deity, which the federation believes clashes with the religious and cultural values of the Naga people.

The NSF asserted that educational institutions should foster intellectual freedom and democratic principles, rather than serve as venues for enforcing symbolic compliance or ideological conformity.

Referencing international legal standards like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the federation stressed the importance of upholding freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

Speakers from various organizations, including the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF), the Nagaland Christian Revival Churches, and the Catholic Association of Nagaland, also voiced their support for the protest, emphasizing the need to protect the cultural and religious sensitivities of the Naga community.