Madan Dilawal, Education Minister of Rajasthan. (Photo; X/@madandilawar)
Dilawar said, “Many textbooks say that Savarkar was not a patriot. While Akbar was considered a great man, Shivaji was called 'Pahadi Chuha' and the role of Maharaja Pratap was replaced by Akbar's. The role is masked.
Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawal on Sunday announced that schools will no longer consider Mughal emperor Akbar as a great figure.
He criticized Akbar, saying he had plundered the country for years, and claimed that no one would ever again praise the Mughal emperor as a “great man”.
The minister was speaking at the 28th national-level 'Bhama Shah Samman Samaroh' commemoration event held at the Vivekananda Auditorium of Suhadiya University, Udaipur.
The Education Minister lamented that Maharana Pratap who sacrificed everything for the honor and dignity of Mewar was never given a great status.
He stressed that education was the highest form of responsibility and every penny contributed by Bamasha for this purpose would be used appropriately.
In January, Madan Dilawar called Mughal emperor Akbar a “rapist” and called for references to his “great man” to be removed from school textbooks.
His comments came in response to discussions about major changes to school textbooks following the change of government.
“We don't need to make any changes in the curriculum, but any immoral remarks or disrespect for great men will be removed. There is a lot of misinformation about our ancestors like Veer Savarkar and Shivaji sexual information. These statements will be revised,” he said at a press conference on January 30.
Dilawal further said, “Many textbooks say that Savarkar was not a patriot. Akbar was considered a great man, while Shivaji was called 'Pahadi Chuha' and Maharana Ratap's role was overshadowed by Akbar's. Such statements are unacceptable and will be scrutinized.
Meanwhile, the Education Minister on Sunday praised the Bamashah tradition in Rajasthan and recalled that in 1997, former chief minister Belon Singh Shekhawat initiated the approach to seek cooperation from Bamashah.
He noted that Rajasthan is a land of sacrifice, simplicity, bravery and heroism.
He narrated how Bama Shah donated his entire property to Maharaja Pratap when the latter had to live in the forest.
Finally, he praised Rajasthan as a land of great men and heroic deeds, highlighting the inspiring legacies of Maharaja Pratap, Bama Shah and tribal leader Govind Guru.
(This article has not been edited by News18 staff and is published by IANS, the associated news agency)
