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Government withdraws textbook that called Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj drunk

Dr Shubha Sathe had written that Sambhaji was a drunkard who fell in bad company.

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The offending paragraph (right) of the controversial book (left) on Ramdas
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Following a furious backlash from Opposition parties, Maharashtra's education ministry has withdrawn the controversial book on Shri Swami Samarth Ramdas, that reportedly portrayed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in a poor light from school syllabi. The state education department issued a clarification notice on Friday, saying the book, which was prescribed for school syllabi under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, has been withdrawn.

"The Opposition had raised several objections about it. An expert committee will be set up to look into the allegations and submit its report. Meanwhile, headmasters of all schools need to withdraw all circulated copies of this book," the clarification note said.

In the book, author Dr Shubha Sathe had written that Sambhaji was a drunkard who fell in bad company. This conduct of his pained Swami Ramdas who met him and helped him overcome this crisis, Dr Sathe had written.

However, NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad slammed the book, blaming Right-wing extremists for portraying certain icons of the state in a poor light. "We condemn this shameful act in the strongest words. We are happy that the BJP government has finally withdrawn the book. But they must do more. They must also register a police complaint against the writer, so next time, nobody can dare write a falsified and fictional version of history about our icons," Awhad said.

Dhananjay Munde, leader of Opposition in the Upper House, said halting the circulation of the book won't help. "Education Minister Vinod Tawde has to tender a public apology. It was under his watch that this took place. They are saffronising history using false references. They are free to do what they want, but our icons and images shouldn't be maligned. I wonder why they keep writing a falsified history when it comes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Jijabai and Sambhaji Maharaj. It must be stopped immediately before public anger and outrage takes to the streets," Munde said.

Book In Hot Water

  • The book was suggested by the Union government’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. 
  • It said Sambhaji’s conduct pained Swami Ramdas, who helped him overcome the crisis 
  • The book was recommended for extra-curricular reading by school  students
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