‘Can respect be legislated?’: Tharoor's ‘12 minutes’ question as new law for Vande Mataram okayed by President

India's President has given assent to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026, which grants the national song "Vande Mataram" the same status and protection as the national anthem, "Jana Gana Mana."

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As one who greatly respects both, and can sing the first two stanzas of the former (but not the other four, which were never required till now) as well as the entire anthem, i would like to point to just one practical consideration our zealots appear to have overlooked: human nature.

Following the presidential assent, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor raised concerns about the practical implications of the new law. He pointed out that the amendment, passed without parliamentary discussion, requires the singing of all six stanzas of "Vande Mataram" at the beginning and end of official functions, in addition to the national anthem.

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Jana Gana Mana requires audiences to stand respectfully and focus their attention for a reasonable 52 seconds… The National Song in full takes 3 minutes and 10 seconds.

Tharoor highlighted a timing issue, noting that "Jana Gana Mana" takes approximately 52 seconds, while the full "Vande Mataram" requires about 3 minutes and 10 seconds. Considering state-level protocols, such as in Tamil Nadu where a state song adds another two minutes, Tharoor questioned whether audiences could be expected to stand respectfully for a total of 12 minutes before and after every function.

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Do we really expect audiences to stand still and respectfully for six minutes before and after every function, a total of 12 extra minutes?

He further questioned the law's fundamental premise, asking, "Can respect and patience be legislated?" Tharoor expressed concern that the law's intent to foster greater respect for the national song might instead yield the opposite effect. The amended law imposes penalties of imprisonment up to three years, a fine, or both for intentionally preventing the singing of "Vande Mataram" or causing disturbance during its rendition, mirroring penalties for similar offenses related to the national anthem since 1971.

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Can respect and patience be legislated?… I fear that the intent of the Bill, to promote greater respect for the National Song, will not be achieved, but its opposite may well be.