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HomeTop NewsHistory altered for politics: Shivaji was never anti-Muslim, says Sharad Pawar

History altered for politics: Shivaji was never anti-Muslim, says Sharad Pawar

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Pawar said that Shivaji had killed Afzal Khan due to enmity and not because the latter belonged to Muslim community.

Sharad Pawar Shivaji AV

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar has alleged that politicians are changing history by concealing facts about Chhatrapati Shivaji maharaj. According to him, political parties have often tried to portray Shivaji as anti-Muslim but he never hated Muslims. Several Muslims have worked for Shivaji and have remained loyal towards him. Pawar added that often political parties have tried to take mileage by using Shivaji’s name as he is a popular king. He also criticised historians for distorting history about the Maratha warrior. Pawar asked why they didn’t take initiative to project the true aspects of Shivaji’s personality. Why was he painted anti-Muslim in text books? Such incidents only send wrong message to children who study history said Pawar. He said that history must not be changed for deriving political mileage.

“Chhatrapati Shivaji was known as an able administrator. However he was depicted as anti-Muslim and pro-Hindu in text books which is unjustified. He had killed Afzal Khan due to enmity and not because the latter belonged to Muslim community. Today caste and religion based politics has taken centrestage instead of good governance hence people have lost faith in the political system. Steps must be taken to restore people’s confidence. Nobody should try to change history and misreport facts as per their own convenience,” said Pawar.

Mr. Pawar was speaking at Bal Gandharva Rangmandir in Pune on the occasion of a book launch on the life of Shivaji authored by historical researcher Shrimant Kokate.

“Shivaji always worked for the welfare of his subjects. He never had created any discrimination against them and considered everyone as equal irrespective of their religious background. He had invited people from all sections of the society to join his army. It would be a-historical to say that Shivaji was a practicing Go-Brahman Pratipalak (protector of cows and brahmins),”added Pawar.

The number of Shivaji’s Muslim officers and soldiers was far bigger than that of Vedic Brahmins. Both the Chiefs of Shivaji’s navy and artillery were Muslims. Even his bodyguards were Muslims. He killed Krishnaji Bhaskar Kulkarni, a Brahmin who was the ambassador of Afzal Khan. He was a visionary and promoted equality. When Shivaji and Afzal Khan met at Pratap Garh, Afzal Khan tried to kill him. But clever Shivaji killed Afzal Khan by tactic.

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