Udaipur: Rajasthan education minister Madan Dilawar on Sunday said that all school textbooks portraying Mughal emperor Akbar as “great” will be burnt. He made these statements at an event held at the Vivekanand Auditorium of Mohanlal Sukhadia University in Udaipur.
Dilawar criticised the comparison of Akbar with Maharana Pratap, saying that such comparisons insult the Rajput warrior king and diminish Rajasthan’s pride. He described Maharana Pratap as a “protector of the people” who never surrendered, contrasting him with Akbar, whom he accused of causing widespread destruction for personal gain.
‘Akbar greatest enemy of Rajasthan’
Dilawar further said that calling Akbar “great” is an act of ignorance. Akbar, who ruled from 1556 to 1605 as the third Mughal emperor, was described by Dilawar as the greatest enemy of the Mewar region and Rajasthan, condemning those who praised Akbar in school textbooks. The minister said, “We have reviewed the textbooks of all classes and have not found any references to Akbar as ‘great’ so far. If such references are found, all those books will be burnt.”
Maharana Pratap’s resistance against Mughal empire
Maharana Pratap is a revered Rajput ruler of Mewar and he is renowned for his fierce opposition to the Mughal Empire, particularly in the Battle of Haldighati in 1576. The battle saw Mughal forces, commanded by Man Singh I of Amber, one of Akbar’s trusted generals, face off against Maharana Pratap, who was resolute in defending his kingdom from Mughal expansion.
Although the Mughals gained battlefield control, they did not achieve a complete conquest of Mewar. Maharana Pratap survived the battle and continued his resistance against Mughal dominance in the region. The battle is celebrated in Rajput history as a powerful symbol of defiance and valour. Maharana Pratap’s unwavering stance against Mughal rule and his continued resistance have cemented his legacy as a legendary figure in Indian history.
