Jaipur: Home Minister Rajnath Singh has opened up a new debate by calling for a relook at history so that Rajput warrior Maharana Pratap gets the credit he deserves. Union Home minister said “If Akbar can be called Akbar the Great then why can’t Maharana Pratap be addressed as Maharana Pratap the Great”.
Speaking a function in Pratapgarh, Sunday, Rajnath Singh welcomed the Rajasthan government’s decision to teach more about the warrior king to school students and said history taught in Indian school books had not adequately recognised Maharana Pratap’s contribution.
“I have no objections to historians writing Akbar the Great. But why not Pratap The Great? The valour and sacrifice that the Maharana demonstrated in the Mewar region was equally impressive and he should be accorded more respect and dignity”, he said.
The guerrilla warfare that the Maharana had waged against the Mughals became an inspiration for freedom fighters like Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh and even Chhatrapati Shivaji and Banda Bairagi,” he said. Maharana Pratap of Mewar was defeated by Akbar in the famous Haldighati battle.
Singh further said, on the one hand Maharana Pratap had the respect and love of a rich man like Bhamashah who gave all his wealth to him and on the other hand there were people from Bhil tribe who faithfully fought many battles with him against a mighty army. Even the animals like his horse Chetak and his elephants loved him till their last breath.
Bureau Report
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