Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Sunday called for bringing about a big change in history books to do justice to the heroes of India and end the manipulation of history that has created a 'monopoly' of a few who gained the country's independence.
"Our history books have done injustice to our heroes. Our history has been manipulated and doctored, creating a monopoly of few that gained our independence," Vice President said while speaking as Chief Guest at the function held on the occasion of 138th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Raja Mahendra Pratap at Bharat Mandapam.
It is unbearable pain in our conscience. It's a burden on our soul and heart. And I'm sure we have to bring about a big change. No better occasion than the formation of the first Bharat Sarkar at that point of time in 1915," he said, underlining that Raja Mahendra Pratap was a born diplomat, a born statesman, a visionary and a nationalist.
He said Raja Mahendra Pratap was an example of nationalism, patriotism and farsightedness he showed by doing what can be done for the nation.
Referring to the delay in due recognition and conferment of Bharat Ratna to some of the deserving sons of Bharat, he underscored, "It was in 1990 that B.R. Ambedkar got. Why? Why was there a delay? Imagine the mindset… And then recently, Chaudhary Charan Singh, Karpoori Thakur. They live in our hearts."
"We have long ignored those who have been our guides. In a true sense, they made the highest sacrifice for the country. Tribal Day has now started to be celebrated. How old was Birsa Munda? Well, better late than never," he said.
Questioning lack of attention given to some of the significant events in history, Dhankhar said, "I visited Kotra, Udaipur recently. They remembered the 150th anniversary of Birsa Munda's birthday. I collected all friends, a heart-wrenching episode of 1913 Mangar Hill. In that year, 1913, much before Jallianwala Bagh, 1,507 tribal people became victims of the British bullets. What carnage! What a dastardly Act! History did not give much recognition to it."
"I am trying to indicate that such kind of British barbarity, along with the patriotic saga of Maharaja Suraj Mal, Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, why are they inadequately chronicled? Why don't they find space in history? This particular occasion will be a game changer and a milestone," he said.
The Vice President also emphasized that the welfare of the farmers has to be achieved to attain a developed country status and Dhankhar said, "To attain the status of a developed nation by 2047, the precondition is that our farmers have to be satisfied."
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