Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade has stirred a fresh debate over historical narratives by asserting that Indian history has been misrepresented due to British colonial influence. Speaking at an event in Udaipur on Wednesday evening, Bagade claimed that the widely accepted account of Mughal emperor Akbar marrying Rajput princess Jodha Bai is historically inaccurate, reported the Varta Bharati.
“There is no mention of the Jodha-Akbar marriage in the Akbarnama. It is a fabricated story popularized by films and books,” said Bagade. He further added, “It was King Bharmal who gave the daughter of a maid in marriage to Akbar, not his own daughter.”
Bagade’s statements have revived the longstanding debate on the 1569 marriage between Akbar and the daughter of Amer ruler Bharmal — a political alliance often portrayed as a union of love and strategy. Amer, ruled by the Kachwaha Rajputs, later evolved into modern-day Jaipur.
Criticizing British-era historians, the Governor alleged, “The British distorted our history, glorifying invaders while sidelining our real heroes. Unfortunately, even Indian historians followed their version for years.”
He also dismissed claims that Rajput warrior Maharana Pratap ever wrote a treaty letter to Akbar, asserting, “Maharana Pratap never bowed his head. He lived and died for his self-respect. Yet, we read more about Akbar than Pratap in our textbooks.”
Bagade expressed optimism about the changes brought by the New National Education Policy (NEP), which he believes is working to highlight India’s cultural pride and historical truth. “The NEP is a step toward preserving our heritage and equipping the youth for future challenges,” he said.
Praising freedom fighters and warrior kings, Bagade said, “Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji were symbols of patriotism. If they had lived in the same era, India’s history would have been different.”
He also shared that a statue of Maharana Pratap has recently been installed in Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, in recognition of his valor.
