Kangana Ranaut; Sharmila Tagore recently said in an interview that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram should be recited, arguing that the later verses, which reference Hindu deities, could be difficult for people who follow monotheistic faiths. Responding on Instagram, Kangana said she respected Tagore for sharing her view but was “shocked as an artist” by what she called a narrow reading of poetry. She argued that the song uses metaphor and imagery that should not be interpreted literally, and asked Tagore to look beyond a “Hindu Muslim” lens while engaging with the composition.
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The “Anti-Women” Remark That Started The Row
Kangana’s latest comments follow an earlier flashpoint from a Lok Sabha debate marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, where she accused the Congress of stripping out portions of the song that mention Goddess Durga. She told reporters outside Parliament that the party had “always been anti-women,” linking the alleged edit to a broader pattern she said reflected the Congress’s attitude toward women.
A Song Caught Between Politics And Poetry
Kangana Ranaut; The Vande Mataram debate has drawn in politicians, historians and now Bollywood veterans, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress of altering the song’s original form decades ago, while Congress leaders maintain the decision to retain only the first two stanzas was made collectively by freedom-era stalwarts, including Rabindranath Tagore himself. Kangana’s intervention adds a fresh celebrity dimension to what has largely been a parliamentary and historical dispute.
Neither Sharmila Tagore nor the Congress has issued a formal response to Kangana’s latest remarks. The debate over Vande Mataram’s verses, and who gets to decide how it is sung, looks set to continue as the song’s 150th anniversary commemorations carry on through the year.
