Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh feels the word 'adhinayaka' has no place in the national anthem as it praises India's British rulers, and has suggested it be replaced with 'mangal' instead.
While addressing the convocation ceremony of the University of Rajasthan, Governor Singh said, “Jan-Gan-Man adhinayaka jai hey... 'adhinayaka' for whom? It praises British rule. It should be amended and replaced by word 'jan-gan-man mangal gaye'. I have respect for Rabindranath Tagore, but national anthem's 'adhinayaka' word should be replaced by 'mangal',” he said.
The debate over the poem's meaning dates back to 1911, soon after it was penned by Tagore. It however, was put to rest in 1937, when the Nobel laureate rejected the charge in a letter written to Pulin Behari Sen.
