On Shiv-Pratap Din : Online interaction on ‘Unique bravery of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj … Killing of Afzal Khan’

Since the Shiv-Pratap Din is a victory over demonic tendencies,  Hindus should celebrate it like Diwali-Dussehra ! : Historian Mohan Shet

Mumbai – An Online special interaction on ‘Unique bravery of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj … Killing of Afzal Khan’ was organised by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) on 21.12.2020.

Mr. Mohan Shete (Founder-President of History Research Board and member of History Committee of the Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum) said, “The day on which Shrikrushna killed Narakasura is celebrated as Diwali, while the day on which Shriram killed Ravan is celebrated as Vijayadashami. There is a method of celebrating festivals in Hindu culture after defeating the demonic tendencies. Similarly, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj killed Afzal Khan, who attacked the Hindavi Swarajya 361 years ago on Margashirsha Shukla Paksha Ashtami. Despite a small army and few weapons, this feat of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is studied all over the world as an excellent war tactic and skill.

To inspire us to act in a similar manner, Shiv-Pratap Din (Day reminding us of the bravery of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) needs to be celebrated with the same enthusiasm as we celebrate Diwali and Dussehra”.

The Online programme was watched live by 29,163 people on Facebook and YouTube, while it reached 1,02,673 people. In response to an appeal made by HJS to commemorate the great deeds of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on the occasion of Shiv-Pratap Din, an image of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was worshipped all over Maharashtra. Also, the Twitter trend created by followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with the hashtag #ShivpratapDin ranked 2nd nationally.

Well-known author Dr. Sachchidanand Shevde said, “We normally say that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj won wars using guerilla warfare. However, guerilla warfare means a cunning attack by the enemy. So, we should call it war-skills instead of guerilla warfare. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj killed Afzal Khan, an enemy with a mighty and large army using cunning tactics. Shivaji Maharaj has won many such battles on the strength of his war-skills. He had a good spy network and each battle had its own strategy”.

Mr. Sunil Ghanwat (Organiser of HJS for Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh) said that in the inscriptions written during Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s time, ‘Hey Hindu Rajya Jahale’ (This became the Hindu Rashtra) is clearly mentioned. However, some self-proclaimed historians are trying to portray Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as secular and pro-Muslim. Even today, there is opposition to the use of images depicting the killing of Afzal Khan and cutting the fingers of Shahiste Khan. However, there are more than 760 villages and towns in the country named after Mughal invaders such as Akbar, Aurangzeb, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Babur. This must change. Else, this will amount to suppressing true history. If true history and bravery are taught to Hindus, steps can be taken towards establishing the ‘Hindu Rashtra (Nation)’.