Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Indian state begins campaign to replace ‘hello’ with 'Vande Mataram' on calls

Maharashtra government clarifies that saying Vande Mataram instead of hello is not mandatory

Indian state begins campaign to replace ‘hello’ with 'Vande Mataram' on calls

An Indian state has launched a campaign to Indianise the greeting on the telephone.

The Maharashtra government passed a resolution that appealed to its employees to say ‘Vande Mataram’ instead of ‘hello’ while receiving official or personal phone calls.

However, the government clarified that it was not mandatory to use the Indian form of greeting but encouraged its officials to do so.

The resolution said 'hello' represented western culture without having any specific meaning and it “does not arouse any emotion”.

Vande Mataram - which literally means ‘salute to mother’ - would create a feeling of affection, it said and called for an awareness campaign to promote it.

“Our appeal is to avoid saying hello while receiving a call," the state’s cultural affairs minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said over the weekend explaining the rationale behind the government campaign.

“The country is celebrating the 75th year of Independence and in accordance with its appropriateness, it was decided that the government employees will no longer use 'hello', but instead start their telephone conversation with Vande Mataram,” he said ahead of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Vande Mataram, the first two words of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s poem of the same title, became a major slogan during India’s independence movement against the British.

The state’s deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis echoed Mungantiwar’s view and recalled that freedom fighter Bhagat Singh’s last words were Vande Mataram.

“We have to bring Vande Mataram into our daily routine again,'' Fadnavis said, adding it would be started as a “movement”.

Critics, however, said the move was an attempt by prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its local ally which are in power in the western Indian state, to promote nationalism.

The opposition Samajwadi Party criticised the government's move. Its Maharashtra state unit president Abu Asim Azmi said Muslims were not in favour of saying ‘Vande Mataram’ as it was “against” their faith.”

More For You

Southport

Floral tributes left by members of the public are seen following the fatal knife attack on three young girls in July in Southport.

Reuters

Public inquiry begins into Southport girls' murders

A PUBLIC inquiry begins on Tuesday into the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport last year.

The inquiry will examine whether the attack could have been prevented and how future incidents might be avoided.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Getty

Starmer is facing a Labour backbench revolt over plans to reform special needs support in schools without guaranteeing existing legal rights. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images)

Starmer faces Labour pushback over SEND reform plans

KEIR STARMER is facing a backlash from Labour MPs over plans to reform special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, after ministers stopped short of guaranteeing legal rights for parents.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government was committed to reforming the current system, which costs £12 billion a year. However, she did not confirm if legally enforceable rights, such as those provided by education, health and care plans (EHCPs), would remain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit London

Londoners faced a wet and stormy start to the week

iStock

Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit London before 30°C heatwave

Key points

  • Heavy rain and thunderstorms drench London at the start of the week
  • Temperatures set to rise with highs of 31°C expected by Thursday
  • Heatwave could be declared by Friday if warm conditions persist
  • Night-time temperatures to remain high, increasing discomfort
  • UV and pollen levels forecast to be very high across the south

Thunderstorms soak London before summer heat returns

Londoners faced a wet and stormy start to the week as heavy rain and overnight thunderstorms swept through the capital. Monday morning saw widespread downpours, leaving commuters reaching for umbrellas and Wimbledon ticket hopefuls queuing in ponchos.

The unsettled conditions followed a burst of thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon and continued into the early hours of Monday, prompting caution across the city. The Met Office has not issued a formal weather warning for thunderstorms, but conditions remain unstable.

Keep ReadingShow less
National Trust sets vision to heal
nature and engage more Asians

Lisa Nandy, Steve Reed, René Olivieri and Hilary McGrady at a National Trust event marking its 130th anniversary

National Trust sets vision to heal nature and engage more Asians

THE National Trust, which is seeking to broaden its appeal to British Asians, is marking its 130th anniversary with a renewed commitment to restoring nature and widening access under a 10-year strategy.

Its director-general, Hilary McGrady, also aims to inspire more people to get involved in caring for the country’s natural resources.

Keep ReadingShow less
 7/7 bombings

The King said the public should draw on the 'extraordinary courage and compassion' shown in response to the attacks. (Photo credit: X/@RoyalFamily)

Starmer and King Charles pay tribute on 20th anniversary of 7/7 bombings

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer and King Charles on Monday paid tribute to the unity shown in the aftermath of the 7 July bombings in London, as the country marked 20 years since the attacks.

On 7 July 2005, four Islamist extremists carried out suicide bombings at Aldgate Station, Edgware Road, King's Cross and Tavistock Square. The attacks killed 52 people and injured hundreds more.

Keep ReadingShow less