Rajasthan Education Minister vows to burn books depicting Akbar as magnificent

On Sunday, Madan Dilawar, the minister of education for Rajasthan, declared that all books that depict the Mughal ruler Akbar as a magnificent person would be burned. The minister said this to a gathering during an event held at Mohanlal Sukhadia University in Udaipur.

All of the class books have been shown to us. The reference to Akbar as a great man has not yet been found in any of the literature. All the literature will be burned if it is present, Dilawar declared.

Dilawar believes that comparing Akbar to Maharana Pratap, a legendary Rajput warrior ruler, is an insult to both the latter and Rajasthan.


He acknowledged Maharana Pratap as a people's protector who never gave up, while accused Akbar of causing numerous deaths for personal gain.

The minister referred to individuals who adore Akbar in school textbooks and call him "great" as the main opponents of the Mewar region and Rajasthan.

The education minister also announced intentions to form a committee to review school textbooks and eliminate any content that may negatively reflect national heroes or inculcate a sense of inferiority in children.

Dilawar commended Rajasthan's tradition of Bhama Shahs, established by former chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in 1997 to gain cooperation from these persons.

[With TOI inputs]