– Ronita Torcato 

The Maharashtra government will be deputing a delegation to New Delhi with the demand for a “more detailed and scholarly” inclusion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the CBSE curriculum.

Minister of state for school education Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar was replying to a question in the Legislative Assembly from Satyajeet Tambe Patil, member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council regarding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s representation in school curricula.

Crowned in 1674, Shivaji is lauded as the founder of the Maratha Empire and a symbol of resistance against the Mughals. 

Hindutva activists have appropriated Shivaji by presenting him as a “Hindu king” who “fought against Muslim rulers”, contrary to accounts that show he held secular values and practised religious tolerance.

Dr Fleur D’Souza, former vice principal of the Arts faculty and Head, Dept of History, St Xavier’s College, points out, “He was the only one who had the vision to set up a Navy as he saw the threat of maritime powers.His legacy lies in the fact that he inspired the people of the region to rise up and fill the vacuum left by a weak and shattered Mughal empire.”

In the Assembly, Dr. Bhoyar said that the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is inadequate and that he has requested the Union education ministry to incorporate detailed information on the history and geography of Maharashtra.

The general consensus of educators, academics and historians is positive with a few caveats. 

Cmde (Dr) Srikant B. Kesnur VSM (Retd) ex director of the Maritime Warfare Centre in Mumbai and officer-in-charge Naval History Project, described the state education minister’s announcement as a “very good move, nice step”. 

Fr Baptist Pinto, former principal, St. Xavier’s High School, Fort observed, “Each state will pursue its own language, culture, heritage, tradition. If there is something false, we must protest.”

“If it is scholarly, no objections,” said retired History professor Agnes de Sa.

Historian/author Dr Kranti Farias said, “It’s okay to have regional history in the classes according to the level of understanding.”

Bombay Local History Society (BLHS) and Mumbai Maritime Museum Society (MMMS) member Adil Desai endorsed the development as “good as long as the facts are taken from primary history sources with proper references and not just WhatsApp university knowledge palmed off as history.”

Volunteer teacher Veera A said, “This has to be seen as to whether they are giving due and equal importance to pertinent information on the geography, history and personalities of all the states. If not, then there should be fresh changes in the curriculum to fill in the gaps. You can’t have partisanship in imparting education.”

Concurred educator Zinnia Khajotia, “It’s good if all other states of India are given equal billing, including their most notable sons, but I’m afraid we are being driven towards the complete obliteration of any history of India…that is not Indian!”

Also read: Maharashtra to introduce law to break colleges-coaching classes nexus