A symposium planned in Thane on Sunday by 23 different organisations on the need to rewrite the history of Maratha ruler King Shivaji was denied permission by the police, citing law and order concerns. The meeting was to be attended by academics, historians and political leaders.
“Various districts in the State faced violence when Babasaheb Purandare was felicitated. It is possible that similar violence will be replicated in Thane if we allow this programme,” said V.B. Chandanshive, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Thane City.
Right-wing chronicler Babasaheb Purandare, conferred the prestigious Maharashtra Bhushan (Pride of Maharashtra) award, was targeted for allegedly distorting Shivaji’s history.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena government’s decision to felicitate Mr. Purandare had met with stiff opposition from Maratha, OBC organisations and several prominent individuals. Last week, a few places in Maharashtra had witnessed violence when Mr. Purandare was felicitated.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s announcement about holding several programmes to felicitate Mr. Purandare in different districts has angered Maratha organisations.
Mr. Purandare, who is known as Shivshahir (Shivaji’s poet-his popular honorific), is accused of distorting the ‘secular’ history of the Maratha king and his family. He is also blamed for aiding controversial American author James Laine, whose book ‘Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India’ had objectionable references with respect to the king’s mother Jijabai and trainer Dadoji Kondadev.
“We oppose this version of King Shivaji which depicts him in a wrong light. We demand that his history should be rewritten through dialogue and debate. But the State government wants to crush any opposition to their ideology. We will fight against it,” said Dr. Jitendra Awhad, NCP leader who had spearheaded the campaign against Mr. Purandare.
Dr. Awhad’s meeting in Sangli was attacked by supporters of Mr. Purandare a few weeks ago.
Supreme Court judge (retired) P.B. Sawant, who was to participate in the symposium, said in a statement that if the government violates the fundamental rights of citizens to meet and discuss issues, then it should be ready to face civil disobedience.
