The latest controversy surrounding Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Azmi’s praise for Aurangzeb has once again ignited the debate over historical narratives and their dangerous misinterpretations. Azmi’s claim that Aurangzeb was a great administrator who “built many temples” and that his conflict with Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was purely about power, not religion, is both factually misleading and a deliberate attempt to whitewash the Mughal ruler’s brutal history.
His remarks came amid the unprecedented success of the Bollywood film Chhava, which has already become a blockbuster and is setting new box office records. The film vividly depicts Aurangzeb’s cruelty, showcasing how he inflicted unimaginable torture on the brave Sambhaji Maharaj—gouging out his eyes, cutting off his tongue, and pulling out his nails—atrocities rarely seen or recorded in any historical account across nations or continents.
History is not a tool for political convenience, nor should it be manipulated to suit modern agendas. The truth about Aurangzeb and other tyrants like Tipu Sultan is well documented—both were responsible for widespread temple destructions, forced conversions, and ruthless suppression of Hindu culture. Aurangzeb’s reign, in particular, saw the demolition of sacred Hindu sites, including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the Keshav Dev Temple in Mathura. The atrocities committed against Hindus under his rule cannot simply be dismissed as mere power struggles.
Abu Azmi’s statements are not just historically inaccurate but also an insult to the countless warriors who fought bravely to resist Mughal oppression. Leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Maharana Pratap, and Guru Tegh Bahadur laid down their lives to protect their faith, their people, and their land from the tyrannical policies of the Mughal empire. To equate their resistance to mere political ambition is to deny the very essence of their sacrifices.
The backlash against Azmi’s remarks, particularly from BJP and Shiv Sena legislators, is not surprising. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s demand that Azmi be charged with treason reflects the growing intolerance towards attempts to distort history and glorify those who inflicted immense suffering on India’s indigenous cultures. In a nation where historical consciousness runs deep, such statements can provoke widespread outrage and unrest.
The Modi government must take decisive action against such historical distortions. While freedom of speech is a fundamental right, using it to justify and glorify historical oppressors must not be tolerated. There needs to be stricter measures—both legal and educational—to prevent the rewriting of history for political gains. The government may have to introduce punitive actions against those who deliberately whitewash historical atrocities and mislead the public.
India’s history is replete with heroic tales of resistance against tyranny. Yet, even in today’s age, forces are trying to rewrite this history to suit their narratives. The government must ensure that the sacrifices of the brave-hearted rulers and warriors who fought for their people are neither diminished nor erased. By allowing historical revisionism to go unchecked, we risk diluting the nation’s cultural and historical identity. Firm and decisive measures are necessary to protect the truth and prevent attempts to glorify those who seek to destroy India’s spiritual and cultural fabric.
