Rajasthan Rewrites History: Maharana Pratap Won Haldighati

The Rajasthan Education Board insists the 1576 Battle of Haldighati was won by Maharana Pratap, and not Akbar.

The Rajasthan Education Board has altered its Class 10 social science textbook to read that the Battle of Haldighati was won by Rajput ruler Maharana Pratap, and not Akbar.

(Photo Courtesy: Gajabkhabar)

The Rajasthan Education Board has altered the text of the Class 10 social science text book to read that the Battle of Haldighati was won by Rajput ruler Maharana Pratap, and not Mughal ruler Akbar. The revision, introduced from the 2017-18 academic session, claims that the "victory of the Mughal forces was not certified".

Until now, the book said that the Battle of Haldighati, which took place on 18 June 1576, was inconclusive.

There are certain factors which bring the result of the battle in favour of Pratap, the Rajput king of Mewar, the author of the chapter, Chandrashekhar Sharma, told the Times of India.

Sharma claims that Mughal forces did not chase the forces of Pratap. The TOI quoted an excerpt from the chapter as follows:

“Neither was the battle of Haldighati inconclusive, nor was it won by Akbar. In fact, Pratap who was defending his motherland, succeeded in his ambition while Mughal Emperor Abkar’s forces, having imperialistic ambition, failed in taking over Mewar.”

The idea to alter the narrative was first brought up in February when BJP MLA Mohanlal Gupta submitted his proposal, which was backed by the then Higher Education Minister Kalicharan Saraf and School Education Minister Vasudev Devnani, The Indian Express reported.

Rajasthan Minister of State confirmed the changed and said that the history being taught in the state's schools so far was incorrect which has now been fixed.

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