(Education) Strong resentment has emerged in Maharashtra against the National Council of Education Research and Training’s decision to remove the historical map showing the extent of the Maratha Empire from the Class 8 history textbook. Against this backdrop, descendant clans connected to the Maratha Empire, history enthusiasts, fort conservation activists, and devotees of Chhatrapati Shivaji and Sambhaji have come together to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court.
(Education) At a press conference held on May 5 at the Pune Shramik Patrakar Sangh, it was announced that this legal battle has been launched under the leadership of Shrimant Raje Mudhoji Bhosale, a descendant of Nagpur’s Raja Raghujirajé Bhosale. Also present were Shrimant Dipakraje Shirke, chief of Shambhusena and descendant of the loyal Shrimant Pilajirajé Shirke (father-in-law of Maharani Yesubai, wife of Chhatrapati Sambhaji), along with Subedar Kunal Malusare, descendant of the valiant Subedar Tanaji Malusare, and many other dignitaries.
(Education) The petition states that in the 18th century, the Maratha Empire held dominion over a vast stretch of Indian territory. However, by removing the Maratha Empire’s map from the revised curriculum, an attempt is being made to keep students away from true history. The petition expresses that this decision is not merely a historical error, but an insult to Maratha pride and the valor of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The descendants present at the press conference warned that the Maratha Empire was not limited to Maharashtra alone, it was a nationwide empire that extended beyond Attock, and that any attempt to erase or distort that history will not be tolerated.
“If any attempt is made through books, films, series, or other media to diminish the history of the Marathas, the Maratha community across Maharashtra and the entire country, along with us as descendants, will not stay silent. This legal battle has been initiated so that future generations receive an accurate and truthful account of history,” said Shrimant Raje Mudhoji Bhosale, Dipakraje Shirke, and Kunal Malusare.
A 266-page PIL has been filed in the Bombay High Court, with the primary demand that the court order the reinstatement of the Maratha Empire’s map in the revised textbook. The cause is receiving strong support from Shiva devotees, history scholars, and various social organizations across the state, and a hearing in the matter is expected to take place soon
