The Chhaava is still alive!

It is a matter of shame that the tyrant Aurangzeb, who devoted his entire life to attacking the existence of the Hindu Swarajya established by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his descendants and brutally murdered Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, is being praised in Maharashtra. After Maharashtra hated Aurangzeb for three hundred years, it is extremely disturbing for the state to witness some people attempting to go to great lengths to save his tomb. It is all the more disturbing since this is an attempt by some people just to preserve their political existence.

If someone is asking the anxious question like why do we need Aurangzeb’s tomb, it should be understood that this is a feeling expressed easily out of immense anger towards him. Every Marathi person who loves Chhatrapati Shivaji and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj has such a feeling in his heart. So now suddenly why is the opposition burning the question of Aurangzeb’s grave like a coal? Who first raised the issue of this question?

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi praised Aurangzeb in the legislative assembly premises, mentioning him respectfully and saying that he was a great administrator. From this, everyone realized how affectionate his feelings were towards Aurangzeb, who hated Maharashtra. What was in his stomach came to his lips. Abu Azmi expressed his feelings and praised Aurangzeb, who was not only an enemy of Maharashtra but also of the entire country, to the point of bursting into tears. This was done deliberately. The other meaning of him making such a statement is that he was trying to belittle the contributions and was attempting to underestimate the achievements of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Sambhaji Maharaj. This was an obscene and condemnable way of indirectly instilling in the minds of a certain class that those who fought against a great administrator were wrong. Abu Azmi was punished for this by being suspended until the end of the legislative session. What else can we expect from leaders like Abu Azmi?

Actually, it is sad to see the duplicity of the opposition parties. Both the ruling and opposition parties had demanded that Abu Azmi be suspended, condemning his statement. But the inconsistency in the behavior of the opposition parties was seen when they emphasized the need to protect Aurangzeb’s tomb. Twisting and changing issues as we want, for convenient politics is a betrayal to the society. This must be the first time that the politics of the opposition party has sunk to such a low level. Be it any party, there should be one firm stance. It is disgusting to take a stance that if we oppose someone who praises Aurangzeb, one class will be in favor of us and if we create a ruckus for the protection of the tomb, the other class will also be in favor. It should be kept in mind that whoever steps on both stones eventually shall fall. Someone should also speak out about the controversial text that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had written in his book.

The British had a policy of divide and conquer. They knew how much the Marathas were angry with Aurangzeb. That is why Lord Curzon, who came between 1904-05 to create a rift in the Indian society, deliberately beautified this tomb. He decorated the tomb with marble stones. It should be kept in mind that there is a section that worships Aurangzeb and he did so to please them. After the British, now the opposition parties are also feeling affectionate towards Aurangzeb.

There is definitely someone who feels close to the anti-Maharashtra tendencies from history. That is why there are people who dare to attack even high-ranking police officers with axes. However, the opposition parties do not say anything about it. Like Aurangzeb, the grave of Sardar Afzal Khan of Bijapur is also at the foot of Pratapgad. Notice how this simple grave, which was 350 years old, has transformed into a tomb in just twenty years. In the year 2000, a plan was made to beautify that grave. Despite being on forest department land, unauthorized constructions were erected near that grave. Finally, the court had to order the demolition of those unauthorized constructions. Wherever such places exist, unauthorized constructions have been going on all over the country for the last fifty years. If and when such places become places of inspiration for the anti-Maharashtra people, who must take notice of it?

The controversial provocative post that went viral in Nagpur was blocked after an investigation revealed that it was being circulated from Bangladesh. The violence was pre-planned. Look how the chain is linked. The mastermind of the riots also turns out to be a Lok Sabha election contestant. This means that people with riotous tendencies are trying to join politics.

Considering the current situation in the state, it is commendable that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has warned against glorifying Aurangzeb’s tomb and has also expressed his regret over having to protect his tomb. Because in Shivaji’s state, the rulers who have been appeasing a certain class had not shown the courage to express such interest in Hindu Swarajya in the last several years. Now it has finally begun.

 

(Article Pre-Published in Times of India Online – March 24, 2025) 

Keshav Upadhye, Chief Spokesperson