Will caste cast a shadow over Maharashtra’s tallest legend?

Maratha bodies have opposed the selection of Babasaheb Purandare, as the chief consultant for Shivaji’s memorial. They claim that Purandare will twist the
warrior’s image. Team Speak Up  speaks to people across the spectrum.

‘Need to emulate and follow Shivaji’s teaching’
There are some Maratha organisations that have opposed the appointment of Babasaheb Purandare, as the chief consultant for the memorial at Marine Drive.
This seems like a political issue to me where various political groups and organisations are just, in their own way, trying to get a copyright over Shivaji.

The question is what purpose would it solve by changing the person who is the chief consultant? I'm sure it solves no purpose so we should try and be more practical about the whole issue. In the first place, do we really need a statue of Shivaji Mahajaj in the Arabian Sea? We have numerous sculptures of Shivaji in almost every suburb of the city, some roads too are named after him, but today do people know what his teachings were?

What did he stand for? He fought for Swaraj and holds an important place and we need to understand the importance of freedom of thought and expression. We cannot divide people in on the basis of class, caste and religion.

The statue of Shivaji at Marine Drive which is being talked about in terms of the height (The statue will stand at 309 feet at its highest point, including a pedestal of 153 feet) but there is no political leader who can match  Shivaji’s stature.

There is much more to Shivaji than what people already know. Historians, researchers and individuals must seek to know more about his little known facets. For example, most of us have missed out on what he has done for the agricultural sector. Although he was a military leader, he revolutionised the collection of revenue in his kingdom.
As a warrior-thinker, he saw the need for a navy, as a fighting force. He was a secular king. We need to emulate his teaching and imbibe the same in our daily existence.
(As told by Abhay Mokashi to Brinda Majithia)

‘Purandare’s take on the warrior is a distortion’
My primary objection to the appointment of Babasaheb Purandare, as the chairman of the consultant committee for Shivaji’s memorial is that he is neither a historian nor a researcher.

He is a poet who tells stories of Shivaji. I'm not making this up, as it has been alleged, Purandare himself admits that he has not done any research of the history of the warrior king. Even the folk stories and narrative accounts, that he tells are purely fictitious and a figment of his imagination. I have no objection to Purandare working as a member of the consulting committee, but he should not be made the chairman.

His take on Shivaji Maharaj, is very tendentious. He tries to glorify and portray that - Dadoji Konddeo and Samarth Ramdas (both Brahmins) - were Shivaji’s teachers. There is no independent confirmation of this. It is a ploy to usurp credit and take the spotlight away from the Maratha warrior.

Over the years, Purandare has distorted history and undermined the achievements of Shivaji Maharaj. For example, he has created a depiction in which Shivaji has been shown touching Samarth Ramdas’ feet. Also, he has created a painting of the coronation ceremony of Shivaji Maharaj in which Jijamata (Shivaji's mother) is not present. Historical records attest to the presence of Jijamata at the coronation. Such untruths hurt our sentiments.

The government should seek suggestions from historians and researchers for the memorial. There are many non-Brahmin researchers who can put light on Shivaji Maharaj's abilities as a good administrator, warrior-thinker, affectionate father and obedient son.

The memorial must being forth Shivaji’s foresight in cultivating a formidable intelligence network at that time. He also built India’s first navy and that too with sophisticated boats, and state-of-the-art vessels and weapons. His military acumen must be brought forth in the memorial. It must not paint him as a warrior who killed many Muslim intruders.
(As told by Purushottam Khedekar to Kiran Tare)

Netaspeak

Kripashankar Singh. Mumbai Congress president
“There should be no controversy regarding a memorial for Shivaji, a monument should certainly come up. And people should not waste time debating on issues like caste or affiliation of Babasaheb Purandare.”

Subhash Desai. Shiv sena leader
 “People should not forget that Babasaheb Purandare and his team, are very knowledgeable. The people who are creating this controversy are irrelevant.”

Bala Nandgaonkar. MNS leader
“The mistrust shown against Babasaheb Purandare is wrong. He is a renowned historian and has great knowledge about Shivaji Maharaj. Opposition to Purandare reeks of caste politics.”

Kirit Somaiya. BJP leader
“Purandare is a  historian and has full knowledge as well as authority over Shivaji's life and times. Purandare is the right person for the job and will handle the project skilfully.”

On record

Mangesh Karandikar. Professor. Mumbai University
“I feel Babasaheb Purandare is quite deserving for the job as chief consultant for the memorial. We shouldn't forget his authorship of a book on Shivaji in the 70s. He has done so much research on the history of the Shivaji era.”

Tejashree Bhopatkar. Media professional
“The name of Babasaheb Purandare is synonymous with Marathi literature on Shivaji Maharaj.  He has always been associated with the warrior king, he gives immense respect to Shivaji. In fact the warrior king himself did not seek to create any discrimination.”

Harini Calamur. Documentary film producer
Shivaji was a man who believed in development. He wouldn't have been bothered about the caste of the person, who was sculpting his statue. I think people should stop using identity politics, as a method to gain publicity. We need to think as one nation and not on the basis of caste and religion.”

Sachin Kundalkar. arathi writer and filmmaker
“I personally think we don't need any more memorials or statues. I do not want to hurt anyone’s sentiment, but there will be a lot of environmental degradation if there is reclamation of any land in the Arabian Sea.”

Kishori Shahane. Actor
“Babasaheb Purandare has written and done lots of research about Shivaji. He has also created great Marathi dramas like Jaanata Raja, a highly acclaimed stage show on the ruler. This shows, his true sentiment towards the Maratha warrior.”