How Chhatrapati Shivaji’s forts are being encroached upon by new-age invaders

To be on the improper facet of historical past is a alternative – extra so when the makes an attempt to reclaim an invader identification are unapologetic. Be it inventing fictional navy commanders in his cavalry to claiming false spiritual associations with forts constructed by him, the makes an attempt to color Chhatrapati Shivaji a ‘secular’ king have come a good distance. For the unabashed Chhatrapati of the Hindavi Swarajya that he was, Shivaji Maharaj was no bigot.
Unlike his Islamic contemporaries, Chhatrapati Shivaji handled his topics equally and have become some of the revered rulers within the historical past of Indian Civilization. While he stays equally related within the current political discourse, nefarious makes an attempt to applicable him for private political features or scoring spiritual objectives needs to be known as out.
Recently, a leaflet calling out celebration of ‘Urus Sharif’ for a Sufi Saint on Lohagad Fort located close to Pune, made its means on social media. Starting with the ‘Sarv Dharm Samabhav’ rhetoric, the poster requested individuals to take part within the celebration of ‘Urus’ for some ‘Umar Shahwali Baba’ whose tomb supposedly lies on the Lohagad fort, scheduled on January 17. Flagging the occasion, Malhar Pandey, a resident of Pune tweeted in regards to the sudden urge to carry a celebration for the bygone ‘saint’ with no latest cultural relevance or any historic identification.
The descendants of Islamic dacoits have launched into a mission to take management of the forts of Chh.Shivaji Maharaj by celebrating “Urus”of some fictional characters on numerous forts in Maharashtra. Few days in the past it was raigad now it’s lohgad close to Pune.(1/4) pic.twitter.com/njotsc160b— Malhar Pandey (@malhar_pandey) January 10, 2022
Malhar Pandey, a historical past buff and President of social group Zhunj raised some severe considerations in regards to the political ploy to reclaim obscure beliefs with the intention to spotlight distinct Muslim identification in Maratha historical past and heritage – typically devoid of information. In his tweet, he stated, “There is no contemporary evidence which shows that there existed a mosque on Lohagad fort during Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s time or Sambhaji Maharaja’s time. Under the name of secularism, the Muslims have encroached many forts before, with help of politicians.”
Talking to OpIndia in regards to the incident, he talked about that any such celebration of Urs has no historic or cultural relevance and is an altogether new fabrication. “There is no evidence of any celebration of such event during Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s time or at any point when the Lohagad fort was in the control of the Marathas until 1818. Also, it is impossible to suspect any such happening after the Marathas, as Lohagad was under strict British regulation until the 20th century” he added.
Pandey, who hails from Pune additionally suspects political intent with the intention to cost up Muslim sentiments behind this act. According to the Poster, Haji Hussain Baba Sheikh, a veteran Shivsena chief is the chairman of this occasion whereas NCP MLA Sunil Shelke from Maval is the visitor invitee.
Alleged tomb of Umar Shahwali Avliya at Lohagad. Image Courtesy: Kevin Standage PhotographyWe went slightly forward to hint the roots of ‘Umar Shahwali Baba’- if in any respect he existed. Pune primarily based historian Ashutosh Potnis discovered his point out within the Bombay state gazetteer of Pune from 1889. He added, “Sheikh Umar Avlia was part of Sufi saints who arrived in the Deccan from Arabia in the 14th century. With the support of local sultans, he settled down at Lohagad. Sheikh Umar Shahwali Baba – The Sufi Saint who is being venerated today is said to have destroyed the temple of a local deity situated on the fort when he made it his base. Adds Potnis, “The Bombay Gazetteer mentions that a local folk deity was desecrated by him. The site of Umar Shahwali’s tomb is likely where the shrine of this folk diety once stood.”
Moreover, Lohagad being a protected monument underneath ASI, the archaeological division at Bombay has already denied permission for conduction of any spiritual operate there. If in any respect, venerating an iconoclast may be morally downright for some, the latest phenomenon additionally violates the authorized framework for heritage laid down by the ASI. Shah’s jerkwater tomb stayed silently for years and whereas he died in irrelevance, no person was conscious of his questionable previous. One superb day, a bunch of individuals begin celebrating him to make spiritual identities to be related to Lohagad at par with one another. It appears the celebration is extra of a political train than a religious one.
The Lohagad fort case stands out, but is just not an remoted one. Several forts in Maharashtra, who’ve did not get consideration from authorities for restoration have come underneath the radar of this spiritual expansionism. Last week, Yuvraj Sambhaji of Kolhapur wrote to the Archeological Survey of India to flag the makes an attempt to construct a mosque on Fort Raigad – which as soon as stood because the capital of Hindavi Swarajya.
This got here after a video of miscreants trying to maneuver stones with the intention to increase a construction on the Madari Morcha of Raigad emerged. Later, it was discovered that part of the precinct was already painted, and a ‘chadar’ was laid in an try to assign Muslim identification to an already current construction. “It is unfortunate that illegal construction activities are allowed to go on in an iconic place like the Raigad Fort,” Sambhaji wrote within the letter.
रायगडावर मशीद उभारणी….इतरांना एक दगड हलवायला पुरातत्व खात्याची परवानगी लागते..काय प्रकार चाललाय हा…याची कृपया शहानिशा करावी.सरकारी जावई जिंदाबाद..#रायगड @YuvrajSambhaji @Chh_Udayanraje #रायगड_विकास_प्राधिकारण pic.twitter.com/5HecnGfd6L— Mahesh Patil-Benadikar (@MaheshPatil_B) January 5, 2022
Another Fort, Kille Vishalgad lies in abysmal neglect whereas additionally withstanding the legacy of commander Bajiprabhu Deshpande whose jerkwater Samadhi close to the Pavankhind lies in neglect. Even although, The state authorities has made positive that funds are raised for the illegally encroached Dargah of Baba Rehan standing in Reinforced concrete. Instead of clamping down on the continued unlawful encroachment of the Dargah, the federal government has sanctioned funds for constructing pavements alongside the highway to the construction as a substitute.
All of this, when the normal temples on the fort stay to be in a state of absolute decay. Local historians say Malik Rehan as soon as attacked Vishalgad in a siege and died on the battlefield. With unapologetic spiritual undertones, Baba Rehan Dargah stands atop Vishalgad whereas the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s enemy is being reclaimed on his personal property.
The above circumstances are mere eyeopeners to how decided encroachments are being made to assert unjust stakes in heritage. Beyond Historical narratives, some Islamists have gone ahead to enroach on-ground heritage websites out of no information, context and participation in historical past. In February final yr, an try to rename the Fort of Vandangad in Satara was executed by the state forest division as ‘Pir Vandangad’ (Pir suggesting Muslim saint). While the fort lies in a restricted forest space, it too has been encroached by the Abdal Sahab Dargah Trust.
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti had criticised this transfer whereas the problem of renaming the fort has now been resolved. Recently, a panel of historical past aficionados comprising of Dr Vinay Sahastrabuddhe (Director, ICCR), Sunil Deodhar (National Secy, BJP) and Vaibhav Dange have additionally submitted a memorandum to stop unlawful development actions on many historic forts to the Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal.
‘किल्ले वंदनगड’चे ‘पीर किल्ले वंदनगड’ करण्याचा धर्मांधांचा डाव फसला; वन विभागाकडून खुलासाछत्रपती शिवरायांचा इतिहास पुसणार्‍यांपासून सावध राहून धर्मांधांचे षड्यंत्र रोखा – हिंदु जनजागृती समितीचे @SG_HJS यांचे आवाहन@TV9Marathi @abpmajhatv @mataonline @SaamanaOnline @saamTVnews pic.twitter.com/VfvNRQYgqz— HinduJagrutiOrg (@HinduJagrutiOrg) December 7, 2021
While conservation of our constructed heritage continues to be a problem, the battle of unlawful encroachments is a violation of the rules-based order. The makes an attempt of encroachments over Chattrapati Shivaji’s heritage reveal the brazen techniques adopted by the Islamists of late. Moreover, the ingenious methods employed to applicable locations of cultural import underscores the challenges in safeguarding our heritage. As if the falsification of historical past by way of bastardised narratives was not sufficient, Twenty first-century invaders have now claimed a direct stake within the prized heritage of Hindus itself. It is a message to the Hindus that invasions and conquests would proceed as Islamists buckle down on usurping Chhatrapati Shivaji’s forts in methods even Mughals didn’t.