Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Feb 26: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday delivered a sharp response amid the political storm over references to Tipu Sultan, alleging that “tempered” and distorted history had misled generations.
His remarks came after Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal reportedly suggested that Tipu Sultan should be viewed on par with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Fadnavis criticised what he described as attempts to twist historical facts for political gain, asserting that while India honours patriotic citizens of all communities, “invaders” would never be accepted as icons in Maharashtra.
Replying to the debate on the Governor’s address in the state legislature, Fadnavis said the issue was not about labelling Tipu Sultan as a good or bad ruler, but about equating him with Shivaji Maharaj. He argued that historical narratives had long projected Tipu Sultan as a heroic figure while, according to him, downplaying episodes of violence attributed to his reign, including alleged massacres of Hindus and Nayars. He also contended that Tipu’s battles against the British were aimed at protecting his kingdom rather than pursuing national liberation.
The chief minister claimed that educational content had changed under the present Central government. Referring to textbooks of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), he said earlier curricula devoted extensive space to Mughal history while offering limited coverage of Shivaji Maharaj and the Maratha Empire. He maintained that recent revisions have expanded material on Maratha history.
Fadnavis further remarked that if history had been presented “correctly” in the past, perceptions around figures such as Aurangzeb would have been different. He emphasised that the government holds no grievance against patriotic Muslims but would strongly oppose the glorification of individuals it considers invaders or enemies of the nation.
Stating that Shivaji Maharaj fought for Swarajya (self-rule), Fadnavis said attempts to draw parallels with Tipu Sultan had hurt public sentiment and contributed to recent tensions in cities like Pune and Mumbai. As Home Minister of the state, he warned that the government would not allow the glorification of historical figures in ways that could inflame communal discord.