Jaipur: Home Minister Rajnath Singh has opened up a new debate by calling for a relook at history so that Rajput warrior Maharana Pratap gets the credit he deserves.
Speaking a function in Pratapgarh, Sunday, Rajnath Singh welcomed the Rajasthan government’s decision to teach more about the warrior king to school students and said history taught in Indian school books had not adequately recognised Maharana Pratap’s contribution.
"I have no objections to historians writing Akbar The Great. But why not Pratap The Great? The valour and sacrifice that the Maharana demonstrated in the Mewar region was equally impressive and he should be accorded more respect and dignity", he said.
The Home Minister said that he will speak to HRD Minister Smriti Irani so that his valour and patriotism could be introduced in CBSE syllabus too.
Singh, who unveiled a statue of Pratap in Pratapgarh collectorate, said that the Centre Centre has decided to celebrate the 475th birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap in a big way.
"I personally consider Maharana Pratap as great," he said while highlighting Pratap's valour, and patriotism.
"The guerrilla warfare that the Maharana had waged against the Mughals became an inspiration for freedom fighters like Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh and even Chhatrapati Shivaji and Banda Bairagi," he said.
Maharana Pratap of Mewar was defeated by Akbar in the famous Haldighati battle.
