They don't know Sanskrit, Indian culture: Ramdev hits out at Vande Mataram critics

Baba Ramdev argued that the song contained references to the motherland as a source of knowledge, strength, devotion and faith, and said objections to it stemmed from a lack of understanding of Indian culture and traditions.Yoga guru Ramdev said the national song reflected the cultural and spiritual reverence for Bharat Mata. (Photo: PTI)Haridwar,UPDATED: Aug 23, 2026 16:22 ISTYoga guru Baba Ramdev on Sunday defended the national song “Vande Mataram” against criticism that it invokes the worship of Hindu deities, saying those interpreting it as a reference to Durga, temples or monasteries lack an understanding of Sanskrit and Indian culture. Speaking at an event in Karnal, Haryana, Ramdev said Bharat Mata has been accorded a central place in Indian cultural tradition and described the motherland as the embodiment of everything sacred for Indians, including knowledge, duty, faith and devotion.Ramdev said those questioning “Vande Mataram” should first understand its cultural and linguistic context instead of interpreting references to the motherland as worship of specific Hindu deities. “Some people have not studied Sanskrit. They say that in ‘Vande Mataram’, someone is worshipping Durga or a temple or monastery,” Ramdev said. He argued that for Indians, Bharat Mata itself represents the divine and sacred, and references to the motherland should not be equated with the worship of any particular deity.He said Bharat Mata was regarded as “our temple, our worship, our duty, our purpose, our destination and our dharma”. Ramdev also referred to the cultural imagery of the motherland possessing the strength to wield “ten weapons”, saying such descriptions conveyed the revered status of Bharat Mata rather than prescribed the worship of a particular goddess.NOT WORSHIPPED SARASWATI OR DURGA“We have not worshipped Saraswati or Durga there,” he said, hitting out at those who connect the references in “Vande Mataram” to temples and Hindu deities and then portray the song as being opposed to a particular religion or culture. Ramdev termed such an interpretation “intellectual bankruptcy” and said people needed to develop a better understanding of Sanskrit and Indian culture before drawing conclusions about the song.His comments come amid a continuing political debate over “Vande Mataram” and its interpretation, with the song’s religious and cultural references often becoming a point of contention.CHILDREN SHOULDN'T BE PART OF PROTESTS The yoga guru also spoke about political protests and movements, saying India must function according to democratic and constitutional principles. Referring to demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, he said political power could not be acquired through disorder or by creating chaos in the country.“If you want to become prime minister, come through the votes of the people,” Ramdev said, stressing that creating disruption or disturbing peace would not achieve anything.He also objected to very young children being encouraged to participate in political protests. Ramdev said children aged five, seven or 10 should not be told to surround district magistrates or senior police officials. According to him, political movements should involve people above 18 and should be conducted within democratic and constitutional values.ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION, ONE EDUCATIONOn the question of his own plans to launch a movement, Ramdev said the biggest movement for the country should focus on transforming education. He advocated “one nation, one education” alongside “one nation, one election”, with the Indian Knowledge System incorporated into the education framework.Ramdev claimed that 25 to 30 per cent of teachers’ time is spent on election-related duties, while questions are subsequently raised over the quality of education. He said simultaneous elections and a common education system could help address these concerns.- EndsPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Aug 23, 2026 16:19 IST