No doubt that Akbar lost in battle of Haldighati: Vasudev Devnani

Justifying why he got removed a chapter on Akbar replacing it with the heroics of Maharana Pratap, Rajasthan education minister Vasudev Devnani Friday reiterated that it was the Rajput ruler of Mewar who had emerged victorious in the battle of Haldighati against the Mughal emperor.

“There could be no doubt that Maharana Pratap won the battle of Haldighati. If Akbar had won the battle, then why would he attack Mewar six times even after that? Does a winner need to do that?,” asked Devnani.

He was speaking at the launch of the latest edition of Pathay Kan, a fortnightly magazine with known leanings towards RSS ideology. The cover story of the March issue of the magazine is on the battle of Haldighati fought in 1576 where the existing narrative on the outcome has been altered. The story details Maharana Pratap defeated Mughal emperor Akbar the very first time their forces clashed.

A BJP MLA, Mohanlal Gupta, had last month proposed at Rajasthan University’s syndicate to rewrite the history of the battle of Haldighati in Maharana Pratap’s favour. State health minister Kali Charan Saraf was first to support the move saying there was an immediate need to “change the distorted version of history” that was being taught to the students. Later,Devnani too had come out in Gupta’s support.

“Students need to learn about nationalism and the heroics of historical figures such as Maharana Pratap. Akbar is considered as great but we also speak of Maharana Pratap as a great man. It is obvious that only one of them could be great. That is why after becoming education minister, I removed the chapter on Akbar’s greatness and included the one on the heroics of Maharana Pratap,” Devnani said after launching the magazine’s latest edition.

The minister also reiterated that a chapter on Emergency would soon be added in the textbook for class 10 students. “In the new class 10 book, I have included a chapter on the Emergency. It is to make children understand how freedom was curtailed during the period and people fought bravely for their freedom,” said Devnani.

In an apparent dig at Congress, Devnani said, “When I was a child, I read in text books that the fight for independence started in 1885. There was no mention of the war of 1857. This is because a political party was formed in the year (1885) by a British.” said Devnani, alluding to the Congress.

The minister said that “an ideological battle” was currently on between the nationalist and the anti-national forces. “This battle will only end when nationalists ensure complete victory,” said Devnani.

He also spoke in the favour of changing the name of Akbar museum and fort in Ajmer to Ajmer fort.