Man petitions Google for a doodle on Shivaji's birth anniversary

A Shivaji enthusiast from Maharashtra has started an online petition asking Google to put out a doodle dedicated to Shivaji, the great warrior king of Maharashtra from the 17th century, on his birth anniversary.

Shivaji ruled a sizeable area in Maharashtra during the 17th century and fought famous battles against the then Mughal rulers.

In his petition on Change.org, Wankhade wrote, “February 19th is the [386th] birth anniversary of Chhatrapati (monarch) Shivaji Maharaj, one of the most respected and revered kings of India. We would love to see a Google Doodle honouring Shivaji on this day."

Statue of Shivaji at Raigad fort, Maharashtra. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

29-year-old Amit Wankhade started the campaign asking the online search giant to commemorate Shivaji's birth anniversary in the same way that several other stalwarts of history, science and art are celebrated by it.

Wankhade, a teacher in a Zilla Parishad School from Yavatmal district in Maharashtra, believes a doodle will help spread Shivaji's great victories and his values to other parts of India, and not just Maharashtra.

Shivaji is one of the most iconic rulers from Maharashtra and has been heralded as the greatest ever by generations of Maharashtrians. State politics revolves around Shivaji's life and Shiv Sena, a major player in Maharashtra politics, borrows its name from Shivaji (Shiv Sena meaning 'Shivaji's army').

Wankhade claims to have received a wide support for his #DoodleofShivray campaign. He has appealed to the people to ask Google for a doodle by going here or e-mailing them on proposals@google.com.