Straight Talk | BJP Has Done More Than Its Opponents to Honour Shivaji Maharaj’s Legacy

Maharashtra finds itself engulfed by a big storm over the collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The incident has sparked a political storm in the poll-bound state, with the BJP facing sharp criticism from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). On Friday, Prime Minister Modi even apologised for the statue’s collapse, saying Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is as reverential as a deity. Listen in.

It must be remembered that in Maharashtra, Shivaji Maharaj is not just a historical figure; he is an icon of Maratha pride and identity. The statue, unveiled only nine months ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was meant to symbolise the enduring legacy of the Maratha emperor. Its sudden collapse, however, has given the opposition, especially the MVA, a powerful tool to target the ruling BJP with. In a state where Shivaji Maharaj evokes strong emotions, the collapse of his statue has complicated the already muddy Maratha waters for the BJP.

The Opposition is wasting no time in leveraging this incident to their advantage. The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, Uddhav Thackeray, has announced a protest march on September 1 in Mumbai, calling for Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s resignation. The Opposition is accusing the BJP of disrespecting Shivaji’s legacy and being indifferent to the sentiments of Maharashtrians. To top it all, allegations of poor construction quality and corruption are also being made.

The question is, do these claims hold any weight?

While the MVA’s rhetoric is gaining traction, it is important to remember the efforts the BJP, under Prime Minister Modi, has made to honour Shivaji Maharaj and his enduring legacy.

The Return of Shivaji’s Wagh Nakh

The BJP government has facilitated the return of Shivaji Maharaj’s legendary tiger claw weapon, the ‘wagh nakh,’ from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. This was part of the government’s efforts to commemorate Shivaji’s 350th coronation anniversary. It was using this weapon that Shivaji Maharaj disembowelled Afzal Khan, a general who served the Adil Shah dynasty of Bijapur. The Battle of Pratapgarh and the killing of Afzal Khan is, even today, remembered as one of Shivaji Maharaj’s greatest victories, where a numerically stronger enemy was made to bite the dust.

At the same time, the NDA government of Maharashtra is also working to bring back Shivaji Maharaj’s famous ‘Jagdamba’ sword from the UK.

Indian Navy’s Flag Change

The Modi government has grown a reputation for not being beholden to signs and symbols of colonialism. It is no secret that Shivaji Maharaj is called the father of the Indian Navy, because he was an emperor who organised the building of a formidable Maratha Navy. Shivaji Maharaj also commissioned several naval forts along the coast of Maharashtra. Given our rich history in the naval arena, it made no sense for the Indian Navy’s flag to carry a symbol of coloniality.

So, a very significant decision to celebrate Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy was taken in September 2022, when PM Modi replaced the Indian Navy’s flag with a new design inspired by Shivaji Maharaj’s royal seal. The Prime Minister said, “Till today the Indian naval flags carried a sign of slavery, which has been replaced with a new one inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj".

The question we must ask ourselves is this: Did no Indian leader think of honouring Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy before PM Modi? If they did, why did it take a Modi-led BJP government to set the record straight and appropriately honour the Maratha emperor’s naval legacy?

Commemorating 350th Coronation Anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj

In June last year, PM Modi addressed a grand event marking Shivaji Maharaj’s 350th coronation anniversary at the Raigarh Fort. He highlighted Shivaji’s contributions to nation-building and how his ideals continue to inspire contemporary India, especially the workings of his government.

At the same time, the BJP’s efforts to honour Shivaji Maharaj have not been limited to Maharashtra alone. In fact, PM Modi has unveiled statues of Shivaji Maharaj in places like Surat and even internationally, with a statue in Mauritius in 2023. This reflects the spread of Shivaji’s influence beyond Maharashtra and the Modi government’s desire to internationalise the great Maratha emperor’s legacy.

Congress’ Tricky Past

Speaking about statues, the Congress has some serious explaining to do. In August last year, a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was removed from a traffic circle in Bagalkot district of Karnataka. The BJP had slammed Congress back then for its silence on the issue.

In 2022, Congress members in the Mangaluru City Corporation even objected to a proposal to install a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the city. That begs the question, is the Congress really in a position to comment on the commitment of other parties to Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy?

The Grand Shiv Smarak

The NDA government in Maharashtra has initiated the construction of a monumental Shiv Smarak off the coast of Mumbai. Once completed, this will be the tallest statue in the world. The memorial is also slated to include other facilities, like an amphitheatre and a light-and-sound show, and is estimated to witness 10,000 footfalls in a day.

Educational Initiatives

Today, the BJP is being attacked by parties that sat idly as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy was diluted in our history textbooks. In fact, reports from 2013 even claim that NCERT not only cut short the portion of Shivaji Maharaj from its Class 6 history book, but also provided little and inadequate information about the Maratha emperor.

To make matters worse, the book, titled ‘Our Pasts-II’, did not even carry a picture of Shivaji Maharaj for students’ reference. The question, therefore, is this: did the parties attacking the BJP over the collapse of Shivaji Maharaj’s statue do so much as lift a finger to ensure Indian children and students learn more about legends like the Maratha emperor through their textbooks? The Shiv Sena, for one, did protest the lack of information on Shivaji Maharaj but back then, it was an alliance partner of the BJP.

The BJP’s track record in this aspect fares better than the rest. In 2018, the NCERT added more information on Chhatrapati Shivaji in its Class VII history textbook.

At the same time, the BJP has pushed for the inclusion of Shivaji Maharaj’s life and contributions in educational curricula, particularly in Maharashtra. This move is part of a broader effort to educate younger generations about Shivaji’s significance in Indian history.

As the political battle over Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy heats up in Maharashtra, it is clear that the collapse of his statue has become more than just a local issue. It is a flashpoint in the larger electoral contest, with both the BJP and the MVA trying to stake their claim as the true custodians of Shivaji’s legacy. While the Opposition seizes on the incident to question the BJP’s commitment to Shivaji’s legacy, it is essential to weigh these criticisms against the broader efforts made by the Modi government to honour and elevate Shivaji Maharaj’s place in Indian history.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.