FoodieSo

When I changed into a kid, I was enthusiastic about Mughal’s Mughal architecture, Mughal rulers, Mughal, sorry, Mughlai delicacies. My eighth fashionable records books fanned the flames of my fascination with the empire, and so did, of course, the Akbar-Birbal comics.
So this morning, once I heard Rajasthan’s BJP leader, Madan Lal Saini, accuse Mughal Emperor Akbar — The Great — of ‘molesting ladies, I became greatly surprised.

Of course, our politicians have had lots of foot-in-mouth moments, but this was unlike any other.
This one would likely make historians leap out of their armchairs and my history trainer extremely, extraordinarily unhappy. The BJP leader alleged that Emperor Akbar could move-dress and enter the ‘Meena Bazar that had become completely intended for ladies. He would then allegedly harass them under his concealment.
At first, I changed into filled with disgust. How can everybody accuse a celebrated Mughal emperor of doing something so heinous and disgraceful? But that turned into when attention dawned upon me — even men who died loads of years ago and are not remotely close by to protect themselves are not secure from such grave accusations.

And why do they need to be?

Men like Akbar have been an integral part of India’s ancient discourse. They had been lauded over many years, and that is apart from all of the palaces and the forts and the artwork and the music and the shahi khana et al. that was a part of the sweets of life very tons loved. So, the occasional brickbat, even centuries after their passing, may be taken in their royal stride.

However, what takes place while an accusation leveled at a historical determine like Akbar the Great isn’t backed up employing statistics or any evidence? Should we nevertheless pay heed to such accusations? Of course, any allegation of molestation needs to be treated in all seriousness — but how will we verify that this gentleman from the BJP is not influenced through any bigotry? By perhaps a bit little bit of hatred for Muslim history?

This complete Akbar-bashing episode jogged my memory of a piece of writing published the previous year, which argued that the movie ‘Padmaavat’ is every top-caste Hindu male’s fantasy, as it portrayed Khilji, a Muslim emperor, in a terrible light and upheld the respect of Rajput Hindus.
Guess what? Now, the same BJP leader known as Akbar, a ‘molester,’ has also argued that evaluating Akbar with Maharana Pratap is a ‘mockery of history.’
“To examine such a person with Maharana Pratap is a mockery of records. This will not encourage future generations of the USA,” he said.

Somehow, it seems that during a battle among Khiljis and Rajputs, or Akbars and Maharana Pratap’s, it is constantly the Muslim men who are accused of being lecherous, evil types, devious beings who can do no exact. They are accused of getting ‘nawabs shrunk — communicate about homophobia — as well as a full-time career of diverse sexual misconducts.

However, what’s thrilling to observe is that such historical figures are still being accused today, as India steps into the 21st century, of committing such heinous acts. Of course, it shows that people may also die; however, bigotry lives all the time. But there may be a silver lining too — perhaps this is additionally what democracy in these days and ages includes. Freedom of speech offers all of us the right to speak our thoughts, regardless of how ignorant our opinions can be. And the power of such freedom that may turn the picture of an effective and grand Emperor into your nearby Roadside Romeo.