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The main narrative of the RW today was presenting Modi as a Hindu King unveiling the foundation of 'Hindu Rashtra'-a 'modern day Shivaji'- after 'centuries of Muslim/British/secular rule'. The resemblance of Modi's beard to Shivaji is probably not a coincidence. Shivaji has been https://twitter.com/ShefVaidya/status/1290910912564658177
co-opted by the Hindu nationalist movement right from the days of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, when Tilak presented him as a symbol of Hindu militancy and aggressive Indian nationalism. Tilak valorised Shavaji's killing of Afzal Khan and used it (along with his reading of the Gita) as
justifications for violent political action. In the Hindu nationalist imagination, Shivaji created the first 'Hindu empire' after six centuries of Muslim rule. In the RW narrative, just like Shivaji challenged the Mughals, Modi is erasing India's Mughal legacy, symbolized by
Ram temple at the place of the Mughal era mosque. There is explicit identification of Muslims with Mughals in this narrative, and Shivaji with Hindus.
Like always, they distort history because history's only use is for constructions of modern communal identities. Shivaji, of
Like always, they distort history because history's only use is for constructions of modern communal identities. Shivaji, of
course, was known to be a tolerant ruler, much like most of Mughal rulers. He built a mosque alongside the temple in front of his palace at Raigarh. The Mughal court historian Khafi Khan noted that whenever Shivaji conquered a place, the first thing he did was provide protection
to mosques and dargahs. It's an irony of history that the proud destroyers of mosques claim the his legacy to justify their acts of cultural terrorism.
Neither do the Hindutva propogandists ever acknowledge the key Muslims commanders of Shivaji's military or Muslim foreign
Neither do the Hindutva propogandists ever acknowledge the key Muslims commanders of Shivaji's military or Muslim foreign
secretary, among many other close Muslim associates. In the 21st century, Modi's party dosent even have a single Muslim MP (out of 303). This reading of Shivaji as a Hindu warrior battling Muslim dominance elides many other historical facts, including that Shivaji was captured at
Agra as a result of the military campaign of Raja Jai Singh, one of Aurganzeb's key generals, and a Hindu. Or that Shivaji's escape from Agra was enabled by his Muslim associates.
Also, it's also strange how Hindutva, a movement still seeped in Brahminism orthodoxy, never talk
Also, it's also strange how Hindutva, a movement still seeped in Brahminism orthodoxy, never talk
about how no Brahmin agreed to preside over Shivaji's coronation bevause they saw Marathas as Shudras, and only kshatriyas had a right to rule. Shefali wouldn't mention this talking about how Modi's bhumi pujan reminds her of Shivaji's 'rajabhiskek'.
They distort history only to further demonize Muslims, and displace the Republic with their majoritarian Hindu order under the new 'Hindu Hriday Samrat' Modi
In the pursuit of their agenda, they not just harm Muslims but also disgrace the history of India and its ethos. -End
In the pursuit of their agenda, they not just harm Muslims but also disgrace the history of India and its ethos. -End
