Naga Students’ Federation to lead statewide protests against Vande Mataram mandate

DIMAPUR — Nagaland’s resistance to the compulsory observance of Vande Mataram in Nagaland is set to escalate, with the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) announcing a mass public rally in Kohima on March 16 and directing coordinated demonstrations across the Naga homeland in protest against the directive.

In a notification issued on March 12, the NSF informed its federating units and subordinate bodies that the protest was aimed at the notification from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), dated January 28, 2026, mandating the compulsory observance and singing of the revised Indian national song Vande Mataram during official functions and in educational institutions.

Expressing concern over the implications of the directive within the Naga homeland, the federation stated the rally in Kohima would serve as a collective platform for the Naga people to voice their opposition to what it termed the “compulsory imposition” of the song.

Also read: ‘Cultural Imposition’: Naga Students’ Federation opposes Vande Mataram directive

According to the NSF, the rally also aims to uphold the democratic principle that the conscience and will of the people must be respected in administrative directives affecting the public.

The federation has directed all its federating units and subordinate bodies across the Naga homeland to organise peaceful demonstrations at their respective offices on March 16 in solidarity with the central rally in Kohima.

It further instructed units to ensure that educational institutions under their jurisdictions observe symbolic and peaceful demonstrations within campuses on the same day.

According to the NSF, the collective exercise aims to express opposition to the compulsory observance of Vande Mataram, protect the rights and conscience of Naga students and educational institutions, reaffirm the distinct identity and historical consciousness of the Naga people, and demonstrate unity in safeguarding their rights and dignity.

All federating units and subordinate bodies have also been asked to submit pictorial and video documentation of demonstrations conducted within their jurisdictions to the NSF office for record and documentation purposes.