Echoing Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar’s assertion that Mughal Emperor Akbar was a “rapist,” Balmukund Acharya, a BJP MLA, expressed his agreement by emphasising that Mughal rulers should not find a place in academic discourse.
Acharya argued that the Mughals, known for their internal conflicts and alleged tyranny, do not deserve recognition as great figures. In his view, academic focus should be on understanding one’s culture and ancestral history rather than glorifying such rulers who engaged in looting and adultery.
Acharya contended, “Mention of such tyrants in academics and places named after them, I find it wrong. In academics, we should learn about our culture and our ancestors’ history. We are not in support of such tyrants, and we should not discuss them.”
Madan Dilawar, the Rajasthan School Education Minister, had earlier labelled Akbar as a “rapist” and declared it a sin to invoke his name in India. Dilawar emphasised the need to reevaluate the state’s curriculum and scrutinise textbooks revised by the previous Congress government, which he alleged were done “with ill intention.” The BJP-led government’s objective is to ensure that educational materials do not demean national heroes or instil a sense of inferiority among students. Dilawar stated that if the committee identifies controversial content, appropriate action will be taken to rectify it.
With inputs from ANI.