If Akbar can be called 'Great' for his contributions, why not Maharana Pratap: Rajnath
Prataphgarh, At a time when Modi Government is already in the dock over number of issues including land Bill and not taming loudmouth Ministers for their inflammatory remarks, this will once again add to its cup of woes.
Sants sore over Rajnath Singh's statement on Ram temple construction
Welcoming Rajasthan government's decision to include a chapter on iconic figures like Maharana Pratap in school textbooks, Union Minister Rajnath Singh has said that he would urge the HRD minister to consider inclusion of chapters on such iconic figures in CBSE syllabus.
In an apparent attempt to glorify Hindu King, he further said the Centre has decided to celebrate the 475th birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap, the 16th century Rajput ruler of Mewar, all over the country in a big way and a committee has been formed for then same at the central level.
Singh
was
addressing
a
gathering
here
in
the
Mewar
region
of
Rajasthan
after
unveiling
a
statue
of
Maharana
Pratap.
"Rajasthan
government
took
a
good
decision
to
teach
school
students
more
about
Maharana
Pratap.
I
will
speak
to
the
HRD
Minister
so
that
his
valour
and
patriotism
could
be
introduced
in
CBSE
syllabus
too,"
he
said.
'Maharana Pratap was source of inspiration for people in other countries'
He said Maharana Pratap was a true national hero who valiantly fought to defend his motherland. Not only did the Rajput ruler inspire Indians but his name also became a source of inspiration for people in other countries.
"Maharana Pratap became an icon for freedom fighters because his name evoked a strong feeling of love and sacrifice for motherland.
"Even the Vietnamese people were inspired by him and it helped them in defeating a powerful country like the United States during US-Vietnam war," he said, adding that the fact was shared by the Vietnam president. Singh said that a former Vietnamese foreign minister had also visited Udaipur to pay homage to Maharana Pratap.
The Home Minister said our text books have not been able to fully recognise Maharana Pratap's contribution and significance in India's history.
"If Akbar can be called 'Akbar the Great' for his contribution, then why can't Maharana Pratap be recognised as 'Maharana Pratap the Great', he said.
Referring
to
VS
Naipaul's
book
'India:
A
Wounded
Civilisation'
he
said,
"Naipaul
has
observed
that
he
found
India
the
only
country
in
the
world
where
history
written
by
foreign
historians
is
taught
in
textbooks.
"The
Indian
historians
should
pay
attention
to
eminent
authors
like
Naipaul
and
take
corrective
measures".
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."
OneIndia
News
(With
inputs
from
PTI)