Historic sites of Maharana Pratap to be revitalised

No funding for the memorial in 28 years; now ₹20 crore allocated!

Udaipur (Rajasthan) – In Chawand village lies the memorial of the valiant Hindu ruler Maharana Pratap. Though it was restored in 1997 by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the site received no further government support for 28 years. Now, under CM Bhajanlal Sharma, the Rajasthan Government has launched the ‘Pratap Circuit’ initiative to conserve and preserve historical sites associated with Maharana Pratap. In the first phase, ₹200 crore has been allocated, with ₹20 crore earmarked specifically for the Chawand memorial. This was shared by Pratap Gaurav Kendra director Anurag Saxena with Sanatan Prabhat.

Saxena added:

1. Fortunately, the Chawand memorial is not under the Archaeology Department, as such sites often suffer due to departmental neglect and lack of access for preservation. A local committee currently oversees its maintenance.

2. Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajsamand district, Maharana Pratap’s birthplace, has the world’s second-longest wall but remains in a dilapidated state under the Archaeology Department, which has done nothing to restore it.

3. Over the past 70–75 years, the condition of Maharana Pratap’s forts and related heritage has deteriorated. The BJP Government’s ‘Pratap Circuit’ initiative has identified 40 such sites for restoration and hopes to rejuvenate them.

Role of ‘Pratap Gaurav Kendra’

Located in Udaipur, the ‘Pratap Gaurav Kendra’ works to raise awareness about Maharana Pratap’s glorious history. It actively counters distorted historical narratives and conducts thorough historical research. The centre also houses a museum based on Maharana Pratap’s life, with dedicated members passionately narrating his full legacy to the public.

Editorial Perspective

Shame on all parties that ruled Rajasthan over the last 27 years. Just as Muslim invaders were glorified over Hindu emperors in textbooks, their historical monuments were also neglected. This is a blot on Hindu pride.