VP: History doctored to celebrate select few for Independence

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday criticised the portrayal of India’s history, saying it has been manipulated to suggest that only a select few were responsible for the country’s independence. Speaking at the 138th birth anniversary celebrations of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, he called for unvarnished historical accounts to correct this narrative.

“Our history books have done injustice to our heroes, creating a monopoly of credit for independence. This manipulation is a burden on our conscience, soul and heart,” he said.

Dhankhar described Raja Mahendra Pratap as a born diplomat, statesman and visionary. “It is a travesty of justice that even after 75 years of independence, we have failed to recognise the heroic feats of this great man. Our history has not given him the place he deserves,” he stated. He emphasised that the foundations of India’s independence rest on the sacrifices of unsung heroes like Singh, whose contributions have been overshadowed in mainstream historical narratives.

Dhankhar emphasised the crucial role of farmers in driving India’s economic progress, stating that their welfare is essential for the nation to achieve developed status by 2047.

“The current system is fine, and our economic progress is tremendous, with exponential growth and phenomenal infrastructure development. However, to attain developed nation status by 2047, our farmers must be satisfied,” Dhankhar said.

He pledged unwavering support to address farmers’ issues, promising to keep his doors open 24 hours for discussions and solutions. “We must be open to dialogue and solutions because the foundation of a developed India lies in its farmlands. If farmers are troubled, the honour and pride of the nation are affected. On this auspicious occasion, I vow to remain accessible round the clock to resolve their problems,” he added.