Shiv Sena UBT alleges 'national conspiracy' to erase Maratha history on Maharashtra Day
Synopsis
On Maharashtra's 67th Foundation Day, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena used its mouthpiece Saamana to allege a 'national conspiracy' to erase Marathi identity — pointing to NCERT curriculum changes that reportedly reduce Shivaji Maharaj's history to 68 words and the removal of Maratha Empire maps as evidence of systematic cultural erasure.
Key Takeaways
Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged a "national conspiracy" to erase Marathi identity on Maharashtra's 67th Foundation Day , 1 May 2025 .
The party's mouthpiece Saamana claimed NCERT and CBSE curricula removed Maratha Empire maps and reduced Shivaji Maharaj's history to just 68 words .
The editorial accused Mumbai 's administration of failing to enforce Marathi language use, citing rickshaw drivers reportedly refusing to speak Marathi.
Uddhav Thackeray 's party urged Marathis to honour 106 martyrs who died for Maharashtra's formation and revive the call of Maharashtra Dharma .
The Thackeray camp alleged the state is gripped by superstition and "fake godmen" as part of a plan to "loot" Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on 1 May 2025 — Maharashtra's 67th Foundation Day — alleged a "national conspiracy" to erase Marathi identity and heritage, accusing "Maharashtra-haters" at the Centre and "subservient" local rulers of suffocating the state's cultural pride. The party made these charges through a pointed editorial in its mouthpiece, 'Saamana', calling upon Marathi people to revive the cry of Maharashtra Dharma.
The Core Allegation
The Saamana editorial charged that Maharashtra's self-respect and Marathi identity — referred to as 'Asmita' — are being systematically undermined. "The self-respect of Maharashtra and the Marathi identity are being suffocated by the confluence of Maharashtra-haters at the Centre and subservient rulers within the state," the editorial stated. It called on the Marathi people to "thwart this" by sounding the clarion call of Maharashtra Dharma once again.
NCERT and CBSE Curriculum Changes in the Crosshairs
The Thackeray camp specifically targeted recent changes in NCERT and CBSE curricula, alleging that maps of the Maratha Empire have been removed and that the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been reduced to a mere 68 words. The editorial described these as evidence of a "systematic erasure" of Maharashtra's heritage. Notably, the NCERT curriculum revision has been a politically contentious issue nationally, with several regional parties raising similar objections about their own histories being sidelined.
The Mumbai Language Row
The editorial drew sharp attention to the Marathi language debate in Mumbai, alleging that rickshaw drivers in the city reportedly refuse to speak Marathi. Rather than enforcing the language, the editorial accused the current state administration of "prostrating" before these elements by staying decisions that would make Marathi mandatory. "Mumbai was won through the blood and sweat of mill workers, farmers, and labourers. Yet, today, the question remains: does Mumbai truly belong to those workers anymore?" the editorial asked.
Maharashtra Day and Workers' Rights
1 May holds dual significance — it is both Maharashtra Day and International Workers' Day. The editorial invoked this connection deliberately, reminding readers that Maharashtra's formation was driven by mill workers, farmers, and labourers who fought to ensure Mumbai remained part of the state. The Thackeray-led party urged people to honour the 106 martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Maharashtra's creation and to reclaim the bravery once celebrated in the ballads of the Shahirs.
Political Context and What Comes Next
The editorial warned that while politicians would make promises on Foundation Day, "as the sun sets, these rulers forget the day and begin bargaining away the glory of Maharashtra." The Shiv Sena (UBT) also alleged that Maharashtra is now caught in the "python-like grip" of superstition and fake godmen, with a visible plan to keep people entangled in delusions to "loot the state." The party's sharp rhetoric signals an intensification of its opposition posture ahead of future electoral contests, with Marathi identity politics firmly at the centre of its campaign narrative.
Point of View
But the broader 'national conspiracy' framing risks sounding maximalist without naming the specific policy failures that could be pinned on the ruling Mahayuti alliance. What the editorial conspicuously avoids is a concrete policy demand — there is no ask for a specific Marathi language enforcement bill or a curriculum review petition. Outrage without a legislative agenda is the hallmark of opposition parties still finding their footing, and the Thackeray camp's challenge is to convert Asmita politics into actionable governance alternatives before the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Shiv Sena UBT allege on Maharashtra Day 2025?
Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged a 'national conspiracy' to erase Marathi identity and heritage, accusing Maharashtra-haters at the Centre and subservient state rulers of suffocating Marathi pride. The allegations were made through an editorial in the party's mouthpiece, Saamana, on 1 May 2025.
What NCERT and CBSE changes did Saamana's editorial target?
The editorial alleged that recent NCERT and CBSE curriculum revisions removed maps of the Maratha Empire and reduced the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to just 68 words. The Thackeray camp described these changes as a systematic erasure of Maharashtra's heritage.
Why is the Marathi language issue significant in Mumbai?
The editorial alleged that rickshaw drivers in Mumbai reportedly refuse to speak Marathi, and that the current administration has stayed decisions that would make Marathi mandatory. Shiv Sena (UBT) accused the state government of failing to protect the language rights of Marathi speakers in their own capital.
What is the significance of 1 May for Maharashtra?
1 May is Maharashtra's Foundation Day, marking the state's formation in 1960 after a prolonged struggle led by mill workers, farmers, and labourers. It also coincides with International Workers' Day, a connection the Saamana editorial explicitly invoked to honour the 106 martyrs who died during the movement.
Who are the 106 martyrs mentioned by Shiv Sena UBT?
The 106 martyrs refer to those who lost their lives during the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, which fought for the creation of a separate Marathi-speaking state with Mumbai as its capital. Shiv Sena (UBT) urged Maharashtrians to remember their sacrifice on the state's 67th Foundation Day.
