In stark contrast to Jawaharlal Nehru, who perceived and opined on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj through a parochial foreign prism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has honoured the glorious legacy of Shivaji Maharaj by shattering colonial vestiges.
In 2022, PM Modi unveiled the new ensign of the powerful Indian Navy, incorporating the Rajmudra, or Royal Seal, of Shivaji Maharaj, replacing the St George’s Cross. Following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Maharashtra government and London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, Shivaji Maharaj’s legendary Wagh Nakh was brought back to India in July 2024. This ‘Tiger Claw’, now open to public viewing, was the historic weapon used by the Maratha icon in 1659 to kill the Bijapur Sultanate’s General, Afzal Khan.
In contrast, even as far back as 1934, Jawaharlal Nehru used disparaging words in his book Glimpses of World History to describe Shivaji Maharaj. Nehru wrote: “With his (Shivaji’s) enemies, he was prepared to adopt any means, good or bad, provided that he gained his end. He killed a general sent against him by Bijapur by treachery… Some of Shivaji’s deeds, like the treacherous killing of the Bijapur general, lower him greatly in our estimation.”
It is indeed shocking to see how Nehru describes the killing of Afzal Khan, who had planned to murder the Maratha hero, as an act of treachery by Shivaji. This was nothing short of idolising Afzal Khan, notorious for desecrating temples and massacring innocent people.
There was criticism in the Maharashtra press regarding Nehru’s remarks on Shivaji. Responding to T.R. Deogirikar, editor of the Marathi journal Chitramaya Jagat, Nehru, in a letter dated 26 March 1936, wrote: “I have tried to understand the main forces and have laid stress on them; for minor incidents I had to rely on my memory of what I had read long ago from books mostly written by foreigners.” By Nehru’s own account, Shivaji Maharaj defeating the Bijapur Sulatanate General Afzal Khan was a minor incident in Indian history.
Even two decades later, in 1957, there was widespread criticism in Maharashtra when Nehru was set to inaugurate Shivaji’s statue in Pratapgarh. S.G. Bhave, a Marathi writer and translator, had written to Nehru on 12 November 1957, asking him to search his heart and question whether there did not lurk, in its secret recesses, a sort of prejudice and dislike for Shivaji and his people. In his reply dated 14 November 1957, Nehru admitted, “You are obviously right in saying that my knowledge about Shivaji’s life and career was a limited one… I was undoubtedly influenced then by what I had read chiefly in the books of English historians…”
However, what is most hypocritical and duplicitous is Nehru’s letter written the very next day, dated 15 November 1957, to S.A. Dange, the CPI Lok Sabha member from Bombay. Responding to reports of planned demonstrations against him for his disparaging remarks against Shivaji Maharaj, Nehru asked what the disparaging remarks being referred to were. Exactly a day earlier, in his missive to S.G. Bhave, he had specifically addressed this very issue.
While Nehru dishonoured the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj by viewing it through the prejudiced lens of a foreign narrative, PM Modi has rightfully respected and honoured the illustrious Maratha king’s contribution to Bharat. PM Modi has praised Shivaji Maharaj as being distinct from other historical heroes, highlighting his comprehensive vision of nation-building by establishing both ‘Swaraj’ and ‘Suraj’.
With humility and thoughtful sensitivity, PM Modi expressed contriteness over the damaged statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to both the revered icon and his legion of followers. PM Modi’s gesture symbolised Bharat’s sanskar and sanskriti. In stark contrast, Rahul Gandhi, with his reckless rhetoric, wasted no time in crudely politicising the issue, with the Maharashtra Assembly elections approaching later this year. Rahul Gandhi should get some glimpses into the history of Nehru’s disparaging observations on Shivaji Maharaj and apologise to the nation before invoking the name of this great patriot again.
CR Kesavan, is a National Spokesperson of the BJP. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
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