Rajasthan Education Minister Announces Removal of Akbar as a “Great Figure” from School Curriculum
On Sunday, Rajasthan’s Education Minister, Madan Dilawar, announced that Mughal emperor Akbar will no longer be taught as a great figure in the state’s school curriculum. Speaking at the 28th state-level “Bhama Shah Samman Samaroh” at the Vivekananda Auditorium of Udaipur’s Sukhadia University, Dilawar criticized Akbar, accusing him of plundering the country for years. He asserted that no one would be permitted to praise the Mughal emperor as a “great personality” in the future.
Dilawar lamented that Maharana Pratap, a Rajput king who fought for the honor and dignity of Mewar, had never been accorded the same status of greatness as Akbar. He emphasized the importance of recognizing Maharana Pratap’s sacrifices and contributions to Indian history.
The Education Minister also highlighted the significance of education, describing it as the highest form of duty. He assured that every contribution made by Bhama Shahs—a term referring to historical figures and patrons who supported education and culture—would be utilized appropriately for the cause of education.
This announcement follows earlier remarks made by Dilawar in January, where he referred to Mughal emperor Akbar as “a rapist” and called for the removal of references to him as a “great personality” from school textbooks. These statements came amid discussions about significant revisions to school textbooks following a change in the state government.
During a press conference on January 30, Dilawar stated, “We don’t need to make any changes in the curriculum, but the contents that make any unethical statements or disrespect great men will be removed. There is a lot of misleading information included about our ancestors such as Veer Savarkar and Shivaji. Those statements will be fixed.”
Dilawar further criticized the portrayal of historical figures in textbooks, noting that while Akbar is often considered a great man, figures like Shivaji are referred to derogatorily as “Pahadi Chuha” (mountain rat), and Maharana Pratap’s significant role is overshadowed by Akbar’s. “Such statements are not acceptable and will be reviewed,” he added.
During the event on Sunday, the Education Minister also praised Rajasthan’s tradition of Bhama Shahs. He recalled that in 1997, former Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat initiated a practice of seeking cooperation from Bhama Shahs to promote education and cultural heritage in the state. Dilawar noted that Rajasthan is known as a land of sacrifice, austerity, valor, and heroism.
He recounted the story of Bhama Shah, a noble who donated his entire wealth to Maharana Pratap when the latter was forced to live in the forests, emphasizing the state’s rich history of generosity and support for noble causes.
Concluding his remarks, Dilawar celebrated Rajasthan as a land of great men and heroic deeds, highlighting the inspirational legacies of Maharana Pratap, Bhama Shah, and the tribal leader Govind Guru.
