Fadnavis, mountaineers hail inclusion of Shivaji Maharaj's forts in UNESCO World Heritage List
The decision was taken during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) held in Paris.
'Maratha Military Landscapes' in the UNESCO World Heritage List comprises the forts of Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijay Durg and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.
"Maharashtra Govt offers Salutations to our beloved Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj!! Heartiest congratulations to all the citizens and ShivBhakts of Maharashtra," Mr. Fadnavis said in a post on X.
"I am extremely happy to share that 12 forts of our greatest King, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List," he said.
Shivaji Maharaj built these forts for "Swarajya" (sovereign state), Mr. Fadnavis added.
Many people contributed to the efforts to include them in the UNESCO list, the Chief Minister said.
"First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. The support he gave and the active participation of the Central Government were of great value. The Archaeological Survey of India and the Ministry of Culture helped a lot in this. I personally contacted various ambassadors. My colleagues, DCM Eknath Shinde ji and DCM Ajitdada Pawar also supported me from time to time. Minister Ashish Shelar personally went and met the Director General of UNESCO. He made a technical presentation there," Mr. Fadnavis said.
"ACS Vikas Kharge from my office, as well as India's Ambassador to UNESCO Vishal Sharma and Hemant Dalvi from the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, were present," he added.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that the development was a matter of immense historical and cultural significance and pride for the state.
These forts, which include the Ginjee fort in Tamil Nadu, bear witness to the valour, sacrifice and vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Maratha warriors, and now their legacy would gain global visibility and respect, Mr. Pawar said.
He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his active support in the successful nomination and extended congratulations to the people of Maharashtra.
Mr. Pawar also appreciated the efforts of the state's Department of Cultural Affairs in meticulously preparing the proposal and said the recognition highlights Maharashtra's historical and architectural glory.
He also urged the people of Maharashtra to take a renewed pledge for the protection and conservation of all forts across the state.
Maharashtra's mountaineers said the inclusion of these forts in the UNESCO World Heritage List will boost efforts to conserve these structures, which played a key role in Shivaji Maharaj's guerilla warfare tactics.
The Akhil Maharashtra Giryarohan Mahasangh (AMGM), an umbrella body of mountaineers and fort-lovers, welcomed the World Heritage Committee's decision to include 12 forts representing 'Maratha Military Landscapes' in the coveted list.
"The most important aspect of the inclusion in the list is that now the (UNESCO-prescribed) rules which govern the upkeep of such sites will apply to these forts. It will help in conservation efforts," Hrishikesh Yadav, executive president of the association, told PTI.
Mr. Yadav said the AMGM had presented scale models of the forts during a meeting of the heritage panel, which helped them understand the historical significance of these structures, the surrounding challenging terrain and their architecture.
According to some estimates, there are over 350 forts in Maharashtra, of which 11 prominent ones, including Raigad, the capital of Shivaji Maharaj in north Konkan, made it to the list.
These forts have weathered the elements for nearly four centuries and the attempts to curtail access during colonial times.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Maharashtra minister seen 'playing cards' in assembly? Viral clip ignites battle over truth
A political storm has broken out in Maharashtra after two videos surfaced online, allegedly showing Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate playing a card game during an assembly session. What began as a social media buzz turned into full-on political drama by Sunday, with protests, clashes, and even violence involving the NCP and Maratha group Chhava Sanghatna. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Management Healthcare Others Product Management Finance CXO others PGDM Leadership Degree Public Policy Digital Marketing Data Science Data Science Design Thinking Project Management Artificial Intelligence MCA Cybersecurity MBA Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 Months IIM Calcutta CERT-IIMC APSPM India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK General Management Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 Months IIM Calcutta CERT-IIMC APSPM India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK General Management Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK GMPBE India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK GMPBE India Starts on undefined Get Details It started when Rohit Pawar, an opposition MLA from NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), posted the videos on social media platform X. He claimed the clips showed Minister Kokate playing a game on his phone instead of paying attention to House discussions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like After Losing Weight Kevin James Looks Like A Model 33 Bridges Undo The videos quickly gained attention, leading to protests and calls for Kokate's resignation. Kokate says it was a misunderstanding Kokate responded from Nashik, saying the video had been edited to mislead people. According to him, he was trying to watch the Lower House proceedings from the Upper House using his phone, when an online card game ad popped up. Live Events 'I tried skipping it twice but failed. On the third try, it finally closed,' said Kokate. He accused Rohit Pawar of showing only part of the video and said the real aim was to defame the BJP-led government. Things escalated at a press conference in Latur, where NCP state chief Sunil Tatkare was addressing the media. Members of Chhava Sanghatna, led by Vijaykumar Ghadge, threw playing cards at Tatkare to protest and demand Kokate's resignation. After Tatkare left, violence broke out. Local NCP workers allegedly attacked the Maratha protesters. One person was injured after being hit on the head with a chair. No arrests were made till late Sunday, but the incident drew sharp reactions from across parties. Reactions from all sides Vijaykumar Ghadge-Patil accused NCP workers of attacking his team and warned of possible retaliation. NCP spokesperson Suraj Chavan called the attack a 'natural reaction' to what he said was an attempt to humiliate the party. Vidya Chavan of NCP (SP) strongly condemned the violence and said citizens had every right to question ministers. She asked Kokate to accept his mistake and tell the truth. Minister blames opposition focus on "trivial" issues Kokate continued to defend himself, saying the opposition only talks about 'my clothes, my cars and such things' instead of focusing on farmers' issues. He claimed if Rohit Pawar really cared about farmers, he would be highlighting the government's schemes. He also said the opposition's focus on such matters shows they lack real concerns about governance. Inputs from agencies
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Videos of Maharashtra minister 'playing rummy' in House sparks row
Screengrab from the purported video NASHIK/CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Two videos purportedly showing Maharashtra agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate playing an online card game during an assembly session culminated Sunday in a full-blown political clash, including violence involving NCP and a Maratha outfit, as the stakes kept rising in what had started as a social media controversy. The confrontation peaked at NCP state president Sunil Tatkare's presser in Latur, where members of Chhava Sanghatna threw playing cards at him while demanding Kokate's resignation. The symbolic protest quickly descended into violence when local NCP workers allegedly assaulted the protesters after Tatkare left the venue, with one activist being injured after being struck on the head with a chair. The row began when opposition MLA Rohit Pawar of NCP (SP) posted the videos on X, claiming they showed Kokate too busy gaming to be bothered about House proceedings. The allegation gained enough traction within hours to trigger protests. In Nashik, Kokate dismissed the allegations as deliberate misrepresentation. The minister said he was attempting to monitor Lower House proceedings from the Upper House of Maharashtra's bicameral legislature when an online gaming advertisement appeared on his phone. "I tried to skip it a couple of times, but couldn't. Finally, on my third attempt, it worked," Kokate explained, accusing Pawar of selectively editing the footage to suit his narrative. "The MLA chose to show only the part that suited him instead of showing the complete video," Kokate said, dismissing the controversy as an attempt by the opposition to defame a BJP-led govt "doing good work". At NCP's Latur presser, Chhava Sanghatna, led by Vijaykumar Ghadge, initially submitted a memorandum to Tatkare seeking Kokate's resignation before the card-throwing protest. After the NCP state chief left the venue, local party politicians allegedly confronted the Maratha activists in a nearby room, where the situation turned violent despite police's attempts to maintain order. No arrests had been made till late Sunday, although the alleged retaliation drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Ghadge-Patil condemned what he claimed was an attack by "NCP goons". He said Chhava Sanghatna, which he described as an organisation of "farmers' sons", would retaliate. NCP spokesperson Suraj Chavan defended the party workers' actions as a "natural reaction" to alleged attempts to humiliate party functionaries. He acknowledged Chhava Sanghatna's right to democratic protest, but suggested the card-throwing protest was out of line. Vidya Chavan of NCP (SP) termed the assault on the protesters "horrible", saying that questioning politicians' actions was a democratic right. She urged minister Kokate to "speak the truth and accept his mistake". Throughout the controversy, Kokate maintained that his detractors like Rohit Pawar had been focusing on trivial matters - "my clothes, my cars and such things" - rather than the govt's agricultural policies. He said the legislator would have highlighted the govt's work if he had farmers' interests in mind. The minister declared that the opposition's focus on such issues reflected its inability to find genuine governance concerns.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
Chhava activists beaten for throwing cards at NCP state chief in Latur
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A Maratha outfit's protest at NCP state president Sunil Tatkare's press meet in Latur sparked chaos on Sunday evening. The members of the Chhava Sanghatna threw playing cards at Tatkare, demanding the resignation of agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate, who is facing allegations of playing online games on his phone during an assembly session. This led to local NCP activists allegedly assaulting some members of the Maratha organisation. Chhava Sanghatna, led by Vijaykumar Ghadge, initially submitted a memorandum to Tatkare demanding Kokate's resignation. Chhava Sanghatna activists shouted slogans against Kokate and threw playing cards at Tatkare. Shortly after Tatkare left the venue, local NCP politicians approached Chhava Sanghatna activists in a nearby room and allegedly began assaulting them. One NCP worker allegedly struck a Chhava Sanghatna member on the head with a chair as police attempted to control the situation. Ghadge-Patil later told reporters that "NCP goons" attacked Chhava Sanghatna activists for demanding Kokate's resignation. "The power has gone to the head of the NCP politicians. They should not forget that Chhava Sanghatna is made of sons of farmers, and we will retaliate soon," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo NCP spokesperson Suraj Chavan, who was present during the press meet, said the attack on Chhava Sanghatna activists was a natural reaction by his party workers. "Nobody objects to protests being held democratically, but deliberately targeting our state functionaries and trying to humiliate them is not acceptable," he said. NCP (SP) politician Vidya Chavan called the attack on Chhava Sanghatna activists horrible. "In a democracy, everyone has the right to ask questions. It does not mean those asking such questions are subjected to attacks," she said, adding that Kokate must speak the truth and accept his mistake first. No case was registered in connection with the incident by Sunday night.
