It's Time to Disrupt the 'Monopoly' of Historic Figures in Textbooks: VP Dhankhar
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New Delhi, Dec 1 (NationPress) Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar urged for comprehensive reforms in history textbooks to ensure fair representation of India’s heroes and to eliminate the historical manipulation that has entrenched a 'monopoly' by a handful of individuals who played a role in the country's independence.
“Our history books have been unfair to our heroes. The narrative has been altered and sanitized, resulting in a monopoly of a few who contributed to our independence,” the Vice President remarked while serving as the Chief Guest at the 138th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Raja Mahendra Pratap at Bharat Mandapam.
“This situation is a profound source of distress for us. It weighs heavily on our conscience, soul, and heart. We must instigate significant change. There is no better time than the formation of the first Bharat Sarkar back in 1915 to reflect on this,” he stated, highlighting that Raja Mahendra Pratap was a natural diplomat, born leader, visionary, and nationalist.
He noted that Raja Mahendra Pratap embodied nationalism, patriotism, and the foresight to contribute positively to the nation.
In discussing the delayed recognition and awarding of the Bharat Ratna to deserving individuals, he pointed out, “It took until 1990 for B.R. Ambedkar to receive it. Why the delay? What was the prevailing mindset? Recently, Chaudhary Charan Singh and Karpoori Thakur were also overlooked. They remain in our hearts.”
“We have long neglected those who have guided us. They made the ultimate sacrifices for their country. The observance of Tribal Day has begun, but how young was Birsa Munda? Better late than never, I suppose,” he added.
Questioning the insufficient focus on critical historical events, Dhankhar remarked, “During my recent visit to Kotra, Udaipur commemorated Birsa Munda's 150th birthday. I was moved by the horrific 1913 Mangar Hill massacre. In that year, preceding Jallianwala Bagh, 1,507 tribal individuals fell victim to British gunfire. What a tragedy! What a heinous act! History has largely ignored this.”
“I aim to highlight that such acts of British cruelty, alongside the patriotic narratives of Maharaja Suraj Mal and Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, remain underrepresented. Why is there a lack of documentation? Why aren't they included in our history? This occasion could be transformative and significant,” he remarked.
The Vice President also emphasized the importance of farmers' welfare to achieve the goal of becoming a developed nation, stating, “To reach developed nation status by 2047, it is essential that our farmers are content.”
