‘Those who forget history can’t protect their territorial integrity’

LUCKNOW: Historians have not done justice to Shivaji, said governor Ram Naik while addressing youths on the Lucknow University ground on Monday. Sharing the dais with him at the ceremony organised to celebrate the 388th birth anniversary of the warrior king was chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

On the occasion, a ‘Shivaji’ flame was brought to the varsity from Shivneri -- Shivaji’s birthplace -- by over 200 motorcyclists.

Describing Shivaji as a youth idol and a symbol of nationalism, the CM said, “Those who forget their history and take no pride in it cannot protect their territorial integrity.” He hailed Shivaji was someone who took on Aurangzeb to establish ‘Hindu Rajshahi’.

“He occupied more than 300 forts and established a kingdom where everyone was treated fairly. Today, when politicians and parties are busy dividing people on caste lines, Shivaji was somebody who united the society,” said the chief minister.

“Shivaji was perhaps the first Indian fighter to understand the tricks the Mughals played while at war. The Mughals adopted these tricks to defeat the Rajputs and kept on dominating them. Shivaji paid them back in the same coin as he understood their war means. Not only that, he was the first Indian to establish a naval fleet to defend his (kingdom’s) boundaries,” said Yogi.

“Today people don't take pride in being Hindus. Just think of the Aurangzeb era, when Hindus were scared of even revealing their identity. At that time, Shivaji took on Aurangzeb like a lion for establishing ‘Hindu Rajshahi’ where equal rights were given to everyone. Today, if people are still carrying the spirit of valour and pride, the credit goes to valiant fighters like Shivaji and Shri Guru Gobind Singh,” he said.

Feeling happy with people sporting saffron turbans at the event, the CM recalled another son of Maharashtra, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who came to Lucknow and gave the call of independence.

The governor said he was proud of having established Chhatrapati Shivaji’s statue at the Lucknow University and Agra Fort.

Naik recalled that while at Agra Fort -- where Aurangzeb and Shivaji had met -- he was surprised to see “distortion of facts by historians”. He said he got a plaque that displayed “wrong information about Shivaji” removed from the fort.

The governor also expressed his delight with the relationship between UP and Maharashtra “touching a new high”. “Such cultural exchange programmes between the two states must continue,” he said.