Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has distanced himself from yet another pet agenda of the Sangh parivar: Rewriting history.
“History is what it is, how can anyone change it?” He said on Home Minister Amit Shah’s assertion that it’s time to revisit history books as historians have focussed only on Mughals so far, ignoring other glorious empires.
When a reporter asked what he thought of Shah’s suggestion, the Bihar CM said, “Will you change history then? I don’t understand how one can change it. History is history.”
Language is a different issue but you can’t change the fundamental history, he said.
This is yet another stance of the Bihar CM differing with the BJP on ideological issues. Kumar has already shot down the demand for removing loudspeakers from mosques.
He has also opposed the CAA in its present form and all together rejected the need for implementation of the NCR. Nitish has brushed aside the demand for implementation of Uniform Civil Code in India.
Last week, Shah urged historians in the country to revive the glory of the past for the present, saying it will help in building a bright future.
“Most of the historians in India have given prominence to recording the history of Mughals only, ignoring the glorious rules of many empires like Pandyas, Cholas, Mauryas, Guptas and Ahoms,” Shah had said at a recent book launch.
“The Mauryas ruled the whole country — from Afghanistan to Lanka for 550 years. The Satvahanas ruled for 500 years. The Guptas ruled for 400 years and (Gupta emperor) Samudragupta had for the first time visioned a united India and established an empire with the whole country. But there is no reference book on them,” he had said.