Mumbai, August 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore has said that only the first two stanzas of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ should be used, arguing that portions of the complete song may conflict with the religious beliefs of communities that follow monotheistic traditions.
Speaking to IANS on Thursday, Tagore said India’s religious diversity should be taken into account while deciding how the song is recited.
“My point of view is that there are many religious people who believe in one single God, not many Gods,” she said, referring to verses in the song that invoke multiple Hindu deities.
She added, “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.”
Her comments come amid a renewed political debate over the rendition and historical interpretation of ‘Vande Mataram’ following India’s 80th Independence Day celebrations.
The controversy intensified after the Congress Working Committee reaffirmed its longstanding position of singing only the first two stanzas at party events, a practice dating back to 1937. BJP leaders accused the Congress of disrespecting the national song, while Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge defended the party’s position, saying the same version had historically been sung by national leaders.
The debate also followed the full rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ at the Red Fort on August 15, marking the first such full rendition during Independence Day celebrations.
Actor Mukesh Khanna has separately called for ‘Vande Mataram’ to replace the National Anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’. Khanna has claimed that ‘Jana Gana Mana’ was written as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth, an assertion that has been disputed historically.
“I have said this three years ago that ‘Vande Mataram’ should be made a national anthem,” Khanna earlier told IANS. He also praised Lata Mangeshkar’s rendition of the song and said he had recorded a seven-minute version of ‘Vande Mataram’ that he hoped would become iconic.
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