Indian history influenced by British, Jodha-Akbar marriage story false, claims Rajasthan governor
Jaipur, May 29 (PTI): Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade claimed that several inaccuracies have been recorded in Indian history due to the early influence of British historians, including the widely cited story of the marriage of Jodha Bai and Mughal emperor Akbar.
Speaking at a programme in Udaipur on Wednesday evening, Bagade claimed, there is no mention of Jodha and Akbar's marriage in Akbarnama.
"It is said that Jodha and Akbar got married and a film was also made on this story. History books also say the same thing but it is a lie," he claimed.
"There was a king named Bharmal and he got the daughter of a maid married to Akbar," Bagde further claimed.
The governor’s comments rekindle the debate over the historical account of the marriage between Amer ruler Bharmal's daughter and Akbar in 1569.
Amer or Amber was a Rajput kingdom near present-day Jaipur and ruled by the Kachwaha Rajputs, before Sawai Jai Singh II shifted the capital to Jaipur in 1727.
"The British changed the history of our heroes. They did not write it properly and their version of history was initially accepted. Later, some Indians wrote history but it was still influenced by the British," Bagade said.
He also contested the historical claim that Rajput ruler Maharana Pratap wrote a treaty letter to Akbar, calling it completely misleading.
"Maharana Pratap never compromised with his self-respect. In history, more is taught about Akbar and less about Maharana Pratap,” he claimed.
However, Bagade added that the situation is now improving. "In the new National Education Policy, efforts are being made to prepare the new generation for future challenges while preserving our culture and glorious history," he said.
Bagade praised Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji as symbols of patriotism.
"There is a gap of 90 years between their births. Had they been contemporaries, the country's history would have been different. Both are seen with the same vision of bravery and patriotism," he said.
Bagade also said that an equestrian statue of Maharana Pratap has been installed in Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, in his honour.
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NIA court to complete framing of charges against 2010 hand-chopping case accused on May 15
Kochi (PTI): A special court here will complete proceedings for framing charges against the prime accused in the 2010 hand-chopping case involving professor T J Joseph, in which PFI activists were accused of attacking him at Muvattupuzha.
Ernakulam Special Court for NIA cases judge P K Mohandas, on April 30, heard the arguments of counsel for accused Savad and Shafeer C and decided to proceed with framing charges against the duo.
A group chopped off Thodupuzha Newman College professor Joseph's right hand in July 2010, accusing him of religious blasphemy in a question paper he had prepared.
The case, later taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), resulted in the conviction of 19 accused.
The first accused, Savad, who allegedly chopped off Joseph’s palm, was arrested in Berram in Mattannur, Kannur, in January 2024, where he had allegedly been hiding under the pseudonym Shajahan.
The NIA also arrested Shafeer, who allegedly arranged shelter and provided logistical support to Savad at Chakkad and Mattannur in Kannur since 2020.
On April 30, the court heard the counsel for the accused and the NIA prosecutor on framing charges against the duo.
"On going through the documents and evidence in the case and on hearing the counsel for the accused and the prosecutor, I am of the opinion that there are grounds for presuming that the first accused has committed offences punishable under provisions of the IPC, the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and that the second accused has committed offences punishable under the IPC and the UAPA, and there are materials for framing charges under these provisions against the accused," the court said.
The court directed that Savad be produced and Shafeer, who is on bail, appear before it on May 15 for recording their pleas as part of the charge-framing process.
After framing the charges, the court will schedule the trial in the case.
