Come out of Hindu-Muslim mindset: Kangana slams Sharmila Tagore's Vande Mataram take

Kangana Ranaut has strongly criticised Sharmila Tagore's suggestion to limit Vande Mataram to its first two stanzas, urging people to move beyond the Hindu-Muslim mindset. She emphasised the poem's artistic and historical significance as a symbol of India's freedom struggle rather than a religious text.

In Short

• The song returned to focus amid questions over its full reading
• Its opening stanzas praise the motherland, later verses invoke Hindu goddesses
• Sharmila Tagore said monotheistic believers may struggle with some later lines

Actor Kangana Ranaut on Thursday reacted strongly to veteran actor Sharmila Tagore's recent remarks on the rendition of Vande Mataram, asking her to "come out of the Hindu-Muslim mindset'. Tagore, 81, suggested that only the first two stanzas of the national song should be retained, adding that references to Hindu deities in the later verses could be difficult for people who followed a monotheistic faith to accept.

Sharing Tagore's interview on her Instagram Stories, Ranaut said that while she appreciated the veteran actor for expressing her reservations, she disagreed with her interpretation of the national song. She argued that artistic works often use metaphors and should not necessarily be read as religious texts.

Vande Mataram is already at the centre of a political controversy over its rendition and the government's new protocol for the national song at official functions. The Congress has reaffirmed the party's 1937 position that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram should be sung at party programmes.

Kangana Ranaut reacts to Sharmila Tagore's Vande Mataram remarks

Sharmila Tagore recently spoke to IANS about Vande Mataram and its relevance to people belonging to different faiths. She said that some of its later verses could be difficult for those who believe in one God.

“My point of view is that there are many religious people who believe in one single God, not many Gods. In Vande Mataram, there is a stanza which says that many Gods are mentioned in Vande Mataram,” Tagore said.

“It is difficult for those who believe in one religion to say, 'Vande Kali, Vande Durga'. Therefore, if we take all the religious people in India together, the first two stanzas are very good," she added.

Kangana responded by sharing a video of the interview on Instagram Stories. While she said she respected Sharmila's right to express her concerns, she questioned her interpretation of the poem as an artist.

“I appreciate that Sharmila ji has spoken about her reservation on Vande Mataram, but I am shocked as an artist how can her views on art/poetry can be so limiting and contrived, in any poetry or song words are metaphors, a poet or artist uses all kinds of imaginations draws unbelievable parallels to bring about the desirable effect, Vande Matram is the spirit of freedom struggle Bankim Chandra ji is compelling the nation to awaken the Shakti within, how can you reduce such a great piece of art to mere religious practice," she wrote.

Kangana further argued that references to Shakti in poetry can be understood as symbols of strength rather than being limited to religious interpretations.

She wrote, “Vivekananda famously said I need youth who are made of iron, bones of steel and veins in which runs thunderbolt, he was not giving weather forecast, he was simply demanding Shakti to rise, please come out of Hindu Muslim mindset even if we believe in one God doctors also call power Shakti, let's embrace each other like our own, I absolutely love you and don't mind a crushing hug like you always give me.”

What did Sharmila Tagore say about Vande Mataram?

Tagore's remarks came amid a wider debate over the status and interpretation of Vande Mataram. Written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the 1870s and later included in his novel Anandamath, the song became closely associated with India's freedom struggle.

The first two stanzas describe and praise the motherland. The later verses contain references to Hindu goddesses, including Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. This has led to periodic discussions about whether the complete poem can be embraced equally by people from different religious backgrounds.

Tagore said that the first two stanzas could be more widely accepted because of their focus on the motherland, while the later references could pose a difficulty for those following monotheistic faiths.

Her comments have now added another layer to the ongoing discussion, with Kangana arguing that the poem's imagery needs to be understood in its artistic and historical context.

Mukesh Khanna also weighs in

The debate comes shortly after actor Mukesh Khanna called for Vande Mataram to replace Jana Gana Mana as India's National Anthem.

Khanna has previously argued that Vande Mataram should be given the status of the National Anthem. He also made a claim about the origins of Jana Gana Mana, saying that it was written as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth.

“I have said this three years ago that Vande Mataram should be made a national anthem. Jana Gana Mana is not the national anthem of our country. It is a tribute to Queen Elizabeth. Rabindranath Tagore wrote a song in praise of her. We have accepted it. Bhagyavidhata, Punjab, Sindh. It is not ours. Vande Mataram is ours,” Khanna had told IANS.

He also praised Lata Mangeshkar's rendition of Vande Mataram and said he had recorded a seven-minute version of the song.

While Jana Gana Mana is India's National Anthem, Vande Mataram holds the status of the National Song. Both have played important roles in India's history and are deeply associated with the country's national identity and freedom movement.

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