Anthem row: Both Sindh and Sindhu correct

While the text of the national anthem uses the word Sindh, the version for playing or singing adheres to Sindhu, the Centre said on Friday. Mohan K Korappath reports.

While the text of the national anthem uses the word Sindh, the version for playing or singing adheres to Sindhu, the Centre said on Friday.

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The affidavit filed by Pradeep Kumar Pandey, 46, under secretary, ministry of home affairs, before the Bombay high court has stated that the word ‘Sindh’ in the national anthem appearing in the website, www.india.gov.in, is not wrong.

He added that the text of the anthem, which is used for the purpose of playing or singing uses the word ‘Sindhu’ as mentioned in the instructions related to the national anthem issued by the ministry and in the booklet, Our National Song, published by the ministry of information and broadcasting in November, 1951. Both Sindh and Sindhu are correct, it states.

The affidavit was filed in response to a PIL filed by Shreekant Malushte, 75, over the usage of word ‘Sindh’ instead of ‘Sindhu’ in our national anthem. The affidavit also pointed out that the Supreme Court had upheld the use of Sindh in 2005. Following this, a division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice Roshan Dalvi dismissed the PIL.