Kangana Ranaut Urges Moving Beyond Hindu-Muslim Mindset Over Vande Mataram
MUMBAI — Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut has responded to veteran actor Sharmila Tagore's remarks regarding 'Vande Mataram', asserting that the national song should not be viewed exclusively through a religious lens and urging people to move beyond a "Hindu-Muslim mindset".
Ranaut shared a video of Tagore's interview on her Instagram Stories on Thursday. While stating that she respected the veteran actor's right to hold reservations about the song, Ranaut expressed disagreement with Tagore's interpretation of the poem, noting that artistic works regularly rely on metaphors and imagination to communicate broader ideas.
Highlighting the historical significance of the work written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Ranaut said that 'Vande Mataram' embodied the spirit of the Indian freedom struggle and served as a call for citizens to awaken their inner strength.
Ranaut questioned the premise of reducing the poem to a religious practice. She explained that literary references to 'Shakti' in poetry can be interpreted as symbols representing strength and power rather than strictly religious connotations.
To support her view, Ranaut also cited Swami Vivekananda's descriptions regarding the immense strength possessed by youth. She noted that his words were meant as an appeal for people to realize and awaken their inner capabilities rather than a literal reference to physical phenomena.
Calling for a broader perspective, Ranaut maintained that discussions concerning 'Vande Mataram' ought to acknowledge its symbolic and artistic dimensions rather than remaining confined to sectarian divisions.
The debate surrounding 'Vande Mataram' emerged following video footage from the Congress headquarters during Independence Day celebrations on August 15. The clip showed Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi conversing while the national song was being performed, which led the Bharatiya Janata Party to accuse the party leadership of disrespecting the song and seek a public apology.
