What does singing Vande Mataram have to do with challenging patriarchy? That question was raised by actor Hrithik Roshan and numerous social media users after BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj appeared to connect the two while criticising Rahul Gandhi’s “smash the patriarchy” appeal to women.
Swaraj’s remarks were made in August during a response to Rahul’s comments at a ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Pune. However, a video of her statement resurfaced after Hrithik reacted to it two days ago, bringing renewed attention to the apparent link she had drawn.
“Huh? Is this real. Wow,” Hrithik wrote while reacting to a video of Swaraj that had been shared a month earlier by Ruchira Chaturvedi, the Congress’s national convenor for social media and digital communications. His response once again sparked discussion around Swaraj’s comments.
At the time the report was written, Hrithik’s comment had received more than 10,000 likes and over 100 replies.
WHAT DID RAHUL GANDHI SAY ABOUT PATRIARCHY?
On August 22, Rahul Gandhi addressed a large gathering of young women and urged them to “smash the patriarchy” while attacking what he described as a “Manusmriti mindset”.
The Leader of Opposition referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments about girls using abusive language during protests at Jantar Mantar. Rahul pointed out that boys had also allegedly used abusive language.
According to Rahul, the comments reflected a mindset that sought to restrict women and was influenced by the Manusmriti, an ancient Sanskrit text containing rules and social norms associated with Hindu society.
“The Prime Minister said that he got a cultural shock that girls used abuses. There is no problem if boys abuse?” Rahul said.
Rahul was referring to a video in which PM Modi said he experienced a “cultural shock” after women used abusive words against him and his late mother. Modi, however, also said that he forgave the students.
During his address, Rahul spoke extensively about violence against women and the disrespect they face.
“Patriarchy crushes you, frightens you, controls you. We must work together to dismantle this patriarchy. My message to you is simple - smash the patriarchy,” he said.
BANSURI SWARAJ'S CHALLENGE
Rahul’s remarks drew criticism from several BJP leaders, with Bansuri Swaraj responding by issuing her own challenge. She asked those seeking to challenge patriarchy to sing all six stanzas of Vande Mataram.
“If you want to smash the patriarchy, I challenge you to sing the full Vande Mataram. I am very comfortable in singing the Vande Mataram in its entirety,” Swaraj said at a media briefing.
The BJP MP appeared to connect Rahul’s remarks about patriarchy with the Congress’s decision to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram. The party has opposed a constitutional change making the singing of all six stanzas mandatory at public gatherings and official events.
The Congress had highlighted Swaraj’s remarks on social media at the time. Ruchira Chaturvedi posted the video on Instagram and questioned the connection between challenging patriarchy and singing Vande Mataram.
The comments have now attracted fresh attention after Hrithik reacted to the video on Sunday, prompting a wave of responses online.
“She got confused between patriarchy and patriotism,” one user wrote. Another joked, “I wanna be a better musician, so I am gonna order a pizza.” A third user said that feminism and nationalism were entirely different concepts.
Swaraj did not explicitly explain the connection she intended to draw between the two issues. Following Hrithik’s reaction, however, social media users quickly revived the debate and added their own interpretations and jokes to the discussion.
