Here's Why Mukesh Khanna Wants Vande Mataram To Replace Jana Gana Mana As National Anthem

Actor Mukesh Khanna has sparked a fresh controversy after demanding that Vande Mataram should replace Jana Gana Mana as India's national anthem.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Mukesh Khanna repeated his earlier comments on the issue and said he believes Vande Mataram is more closely connected with India's freedom struggle and national identity.

Mukesh Khanna said that his earlier stance around Vande Mataram had been unnecessarily turned into a controversy. "Vande Mataram has become an issue that has been unnecessarily blown out of proportion," he added.

Mukesh Khanna, best known for playing the superhero Shaktimaan, questioned the history of Jana Gana Mana. He said the song was written during British rule.

He also questioned the meaning of the words Jana Gana Mana Adhinayak and Bharat Bhagya Vidhata. Mukesh Khanna said the words could mean a ruler or someone who decides India's future. He linked this to the time when British King George V was in India. Mukesh Khanna said he does not believe Jana Gana Mana should remain the national anthem.

Mukesh Khanna's comments have revived an old debate about the origins and meaning of Jana Gana Mana.

The song was written by Rabindranath Tagore and was first publicly sung in December 1911. It was later adopted by the Constituent Assembly as India's national anthem on January 24, 1950, shortly before the Constitution came into effect.

Mukesh Khanna said he prefers Vande Mataram because the song shows respect for the motherland. Explaining the meaning of the words, he said they express the feeling of bowing before and respecting the mother.

"I want this to become the national anthem of our country," Mukesh Khanna said. Vande Mataram was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. The song became an important part of India's freedom movement.

Mukesh Khanna also spoke about India's colonial past. He said, "Angrez chale gaye hain lekin angrezi chhod kar gaye hain"