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Vande Mataram Full 6 Stanzas Read Here: What is the Sharmila Tagore-Kangana Ranaut ‘Hindu-Muslim’ spat? What do the six stanzas say? What was the controversy? News18 explains
Sharmila Tagore, Kangana Ranaut. (File)
Amid the political furore over singing of six stanzas of Vande Mataram, as opposed to the current practice of singing two, two actresses engaged in a war of words over the topic. Actor Sharmila Tagore, who is related to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore who wrote national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, suggested singing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram because the later verses mention Hindu deities like Durga and Kali, which monotheistic believers might find difficult to accept. Kangana Ranaut strongly rejected this view, urging her to move past a “Hindu-Muslim mindset” and explaining that the references to deities are creative metaphors intended to spark national strength, not literal religious mandates.
What do the six stanzas say? What was the controversy? News18 explains.
WHAT SHARMILA TAGORE SAID
During an interview with IANS, veteran actor Sharmila Tagore supported a partial, two-stanza rendition of the poem written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. She noted that many religious people in India believe in a single God and may feel uncomfortable chanting multiple deities. She pointed out that it is difficult for individuals belonging to strictly monotheistic faiths to recite phrases like “Vande Kali, Vande Durga”.
She concluded that to unite all religious communities across India, sticking to the first two stanzas is the most inclusive approach.
WHAT KANGANA RANAUT SAID
Actor and BJP Lok Sabha MP Kangana Ranaut posted a sharp critique on her Instagram Stories while emphasising that she still loves and respects the veteran star personally. She expressed shock that an artist would view poetry so literally, stating that words, imagery, and parallels in songs are meant to create emotional effects, not define exact religious actions. She argued that referencing Durga or Shakti is a poetic call by Bankim Chandra to awaken inner ferocity and strength within the citizens during the freedom struggle. She drew a parallel to a quote by Swami Vivekananda about needing youth with “veins in which runs thunderbolt”, noting he wasn’t giving a weather forecast but demanding power.
She wrote, “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.”
SIX STANZAS OF VANDE MATARAM
Vande Mataram!
Sujalam suphalam malayaja-sitalam,
Sasya-Syamalam Mataram!
Vande Mataram!
Subhra-jyotsnam pulakita-yaminim,
Phulla-kusumita druma-dala-sobhinim,
Suhasinim sumadhura bhasanim,
Sukhadam varadam Mataram!
Vande Mataram!
Koti-koti kantha kalakala ninada karale,
Koti-koti bhujair dhrta kharakaravale,
Ke bole Ma tumi abale!
Bahubaladharinim namami tarinim,
Ripudala-varinim Mataram!
Vande Mataram!
Tumi vidya, tumi dharma,
Tumi hrdi, tumi marma,
Tvam hi pranah sarire!
You have so much power,
Hrdaye tumi Ma bhakti,
Tomarai pratima gadi mandire-mandire.
Vande Mataram!
Tvam hi Durga daSa-praharana-dharini,
Kamala kamala-dala-viharini,
Vani Vidya-Dayini,
Namami tvam namami kamalam,
Practice atulam,
Sujalam suphalaam Mataram!
Vande Mataram!
Syamalam saralam susmitam bhisitam,
Dharaanim bhaaraanim Mataram!
Vande Mataram!
WHAT VANDE MATARAM MEANS
The composition by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay contains six stanzas in total. The first two verses praise the land, water, crops, and natural beauty of the motherland. They are universally accepted
The latter four verses include explicit references to Hindu deities, comparing the nation directly to Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati
THE VANDE MATARAM ROW
The Vande Mataram row is a major political and ideological clash over whether to mandate the full six-stanzas of India’s National Song or limit its public singing to the first two stanzas. While the ruling BJP insists on honoring the entire poem to reflect unified national pride, the Congress party maintains its historical stance of singing only the first two verses to protect religious inclusivity.
Critics, particularly from monotheistic faiths like Islam, argue that mandating the later verses forces them to violate their religious tenets, which forbid the worship of anyone other than God. Proponents argue the imagery is purely a creative, poetic metaphor for national strength.
VANDE MATARAM: HISTORY AND CURRENT CONTROVERSY
The tension dates back to the Indian freedom struggle. In October 1937, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) led by Jawaharlal Nehru and backed by Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore, passed a resolution stating that only the first two stanzas would be sung at national gatherings. They did this to accommodate the sensibilities of minority communities. In 1950, India officially adopted only these first two stanzas as the National Song.
The current face-off was sparked by a series of aggressive central government policies aimed at standardizing the song. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a directive formalizing official protocols, endorsing the full version for presidential and formal state events.
Parliament passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026. This law grants Vande Mataram the exact same penal protections as the National Anthem, making the intentional disruption or prevention of its singing a punishable crime.
The tension turned into an open political war during the Independence Day flag-hoisting at the Congress headquarters. A video surfaced showing the full version of the song being played. As the controversial third stanza began, senior leader Sonia Gandhi appeared to make objecting hand gestures to party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The BJP immediately attacked her, claiming she tried to stop the National Song out of “appeasement politics”. Home Minister Amit Shah called the attitude “anti-national”. Congress dismissed the claims, stating Sonia Gandhi was merely asking for a chair for the elderly Kharge. Days later, the CWC officially formalized a rule stating that only the first two stanzas will be used at party events going forward, directly defying the central push for the full song.
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18The Union Home Ministry’s guidelines prescribe the full six-stanza version of Vande Mataram for specified state occasions. However, a new law, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which gives Vande Mataram the same legal protection as the national anthem, does not penalise individuals for not singing all six stanzas or for singing it incorrectly.
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At the news desk for 20 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing speci…Read More
August 21, 2026, 4:08 PM IST
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