The Maharashtra government on Sunday launched a campaign appealing people to use the Indian style of greeting which is ‘Vande Mataram’ while receiving phone calls instead of the English ‘hello’.
Launching the campaign, State Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said, “Vande Mataram” means we are bowing before our mother. Hence, it is our appeal to people to use this instead of ‘hello’.” Further, he also mentioned that it was all okay if someone chose to say ‘Jai Bhim’ or ‘Jai Shri Ram’ or even mention their parents’ names while answering phone calls.
He also mentioned that they were just trying to get people to avoid saying ‘hello’, while stating, "All the forms are fine with us”. The Minister also said that even Mahatma Gandhi supported the chanting of ‘Vande Mataram’ and had mentioned in a column published at the time.
On Saturday, the advisory issued by the State Government regarding the use of the ‘Vande Mataram’ greeting also said that it was not mandatory but the heads of departments should encourage their workers to do so. It also said that the word ‘HELLO’ carried the essence of Western Culture and also the word had no specific meaning either way.
The advisory also mentioned that greeting people by saying “Vande Mataram” will create a feeling of affection and love for others which the word “hello” cannot because the word itself is just a formality with no emotional meaning attached to it.
