Latest news with #Mughal
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Ahilyabai Holkar statue unveiled on JMC-H initiative
1 2 Jaipur: A proposal passed in the board meeting of Jaipur Municipal Corporation-Heritage (JMC-H) on May 26 to install a statue of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar came to fruition Saturday with the grand unveiling of an 8-foot tall statue at the newly developed Ahilyabai Holkar Garden in Haripura. The inauguration was carried out in the presence of Acharya Mahant Bharat Bhushan Das Maharaj from Sant Ravidas Janmasthali, Varanasi, along with Civil Lines MLA Gopal Sharma and JMC-H acting mayor Kusum Yadav. The atmosphere turned emotional as chants of "Ahilyabai Amar Rahein" and "Har Har Mahadev" echoed throughout the park, while devotees eagerly took selfies with the statue. Prior to the unveiling, a vibrant Kalash Yatra was taken out from Rojgareshwar Mahadev Temple, led by hundreds of women and prominent members of various communities, with Mahant Bharat Bhushan Das at the helm. The procession was greeted with floral showers and refreshments along the way. MLA Sharma said, "Residents of Haripura's Durga Vistar and Park View colonies were demanding a park for over 40 years. It is a matter of pride that this long-pending need was fulfilled during the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar under the double-engine govt of PM Modi and CM Bhajan Lal Sharma." Mayor Yadav highlighted Ahilyabai's legacy of justice and compassion and promised to develop the park into a model cultural space. Mahant Bharat Bhushan Das praised Ahilyabai's temple restorations during the Mughal era. tnn
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Ahilyabai was a paragon of women strength'
Lucknow: Emphasising the importance of historical female figures, BJP's state president Bhupendra Singh on Saturday said, "Queen Ahilyabai Holkar was a formidable administrator, warrior and a driving force behind economic and cultural revival. " Addressing a seminar that marked the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai, Singh said, "She was a paragon of women's strength whose contributions to justice and entrepreneurship made her different." Power and urban development minister AK Sharma highlighted Ahilyabai's extensive work in temple restoration and her initiatives aimed at economic fortification and women's empowerment during her rule. He noted her unique ability to blend tradition with progress, which significantly benefited society. Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma reiterated Ahilyabai's pivotal role in cultural heritage preservation amid the adversities of Mughal and British rule. Meanwhile, BJP's Lucknow district president Anand Dwivedi said that the BJP organised a series of programmes from May 21-31 under a campaign to further promote the legacy of Ahilyabai. The seminar attracted numerous party workers and community members, reflecting the lasting impact of Ahilyabai's contributions to society and culture, serving as an inspiration for future generations.
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Maharana Pratap won battle of Haldighati against Akbar': Rajasthan Deputy CM Diya Kumari at Jaipur event
Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari has said that Mewar king Maharana Pratap won the 16th Century battle of Haldighati against the forces of Mughal emperor Akbar, adding that she was instrumental in the change of plaque in Haldighati to ensure that it 'reflects the truth.' Speaking at a programme in Jaipur organised by Veer Shiromani Maharana Pratap Sanstha to commemorate the 485th birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap on Thursday, Kumari said: 'The plaque at Haldighati stated that Maharana Pratap lost and Akbar won the battle. In 2021, since I was an MP from there (Rajsamand) – and it is an ASI monument – we tried (to get it changed), including in Delhi with the Minister (of State) for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal as the department was under him. The words on the plaque were changed and if you go to Haldighati today, you will read that Maharana Pratap won the battle. I would like to say that that was the biggest achievement of my tenure (as an MP).' आज वीर शिरोमणि महाराणा प्रताप जी की 485वीं जयंती के उपलक्ष में वीर शिरोमणि महाराणा प्रताप संस्था, झोटवाड़ा द्वारा आयोजित कार्यक्रम में सम्मिलित होकर गौरव की अनुभूति हुई। महाराणा प्रताप का जीवन हम सभी के लिए स्वाभिमान, साहस और मातृभूमि के प्रति समर्पण का प्रतीक है। हल्दीघाटी के… — Diya Kumari (@KumariDiya) May 29, 2025 While the comments were made Thursday, they went viral Saturday. She said that since people may not be aware, she decided to share the truth with people from the stage. 'Kyunki log bahut ulti seedhi cheezein bolte hain, sacchai batane ka sabko samay aa chuka hai. Main kum bolti hun, lekin jab bolti hun tab bahut kuch bolti hun (Because people say a lot of wrong things, the time has come to tell the truth to everyone. I speak less, but when I speak, my words mean a lot),' she said. 'We need to think; the true and correct history of Rajasthan should reach people. Not the history written by Mughals. What did the Mughals do? Divide and rule, the same thing which the Britishers did,' she said, adding that the Mughals made Rajputs fight Rajputs, Hindus fight Hindus. She said that it was unfortunate that for a long time, the political parties too pushed the same history. The ASI had changed the said plaques in 2021. In July 2021, then ASI Jodhpur circle superintendent Bipin Chandra Negi had told The Indian Express that: 'The state government had put up these plaques in Chetak Samadhi, Badshahi Bagh, Rakta Talai and Haldighati in 1975 when Indira Gandhi had visited the area. At that time, these weren't centrally protected monuments. These sites were declared as monuments of national importance in 2003 but the plaques didn't have this information. Over time, they became worn out and also had controversies about date and some other information.' He had added that he received submissions from scholars and public representatives for the removal of the plaques. 'Following this, I took cognizance of the matter. The old plaques didn't even contain the name of ASI. The Culture Ministry had also raised the issue with our headquarters,' Negi had said. The plaque at Rakta Talai, which was removed, had said: 'The fight was so deadly that the whole field was strewn with dead bodies. However, circumstances forced the Rajputs to retreat and the struggle ended at mid-day of the 21st June 1576AD.' Kumari's comments came a day after Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade claimed that several inaccuracies have been recorded in Indian history due to the early influence of British historians, including the widely cited story of the marriage of Jodha Bai and Mughal emperor Akbar. Speaking at an event in Udaipur, the governor had said that this story is a lie, instead claiming that 'There was a king named Bharmal and he got the daughter of a maid married to Akbar.'
The Star
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Rooted in the earth, Indian traditional mud wrestling thrives
KOLHAPUR: Crowds cheer as muscular men in loincloths slap sacred scented soil on their bulging thighs and arms for a mud wrestling bout in India. "When we fight, we sweat," said 33-year-old Mauli Jamdade, a wrestling star in Maharashtra state, rubbing red-brown earth onto his body for each clash. "The mud gives us grip and helps us grapple better." Unlike conventional wrestling matches played on mats with regulated draws, India's mud wrestling is more raw - but has been the training ground for Olympic success. This style of wrestling, known as "kushti" or "dangal", has millennia-old roots but emerged during the period of India's Mughal rulers in the 16th century, blending traditional hand-to-hand combat with Persian martial arts. There are no blows or kicking, but plenty of throws to the ground, and it remains hugely popular. It took Jamdade over 15 minutes to defeat his rival, starting with a slow circling dance then twisting, turning and locking arms, before he pinned him down. The bout ends when one wrestler pins his opponent's back to the mud, irrespective of how long it takes. Both men and women Indian wrestlers have won medals at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games in the more regulated form of the sport. But it is the mud, not mat, version that is popular in swathes of rural areas - with supporters saying it is not just a spectacle but a tradition that many want to uphold. Bank cashier Anil Harale ended his wrestling career after injuring his leg, but after work still slips out of his office clothes for a dirty wrestle. "I miss it," said the 46-year-old, who hopes his "unfulfilled dream" will be realised by his teenage son, an aspiring wrestler. Wrestler K D Jadhav, who took bronze at the 1952 Olympics - the first Indian to win an individual Olympic medal - began his sporting career as a mud wrestler in Kolhapur, a city in Maharashtra. "It is from mud that wrestlers reach the Olympics," said excited fan Sachin Mote, among hundreds cheering the wrestlers at a bout. Kolhapur is a core base of the sport with its centuries-old residential gymnasiums known as talims. Jamdade joined the Gangavesh talim aged 14. A picture of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman - a deity worshipped by wrestlers for his strength and devotion - gazes over waist-deep pits where the soil is dug. The earth is mixed with turmeric, yoghurt and milk, as well as neem tree leaves and oil, before it is ploughed and smoothened across the ring. For the wrestlers, the soil is sacred. "It is everything," said Jamdade. "There is nothing without it." More than a hundred wrestlers - some as young as 10 - train at the talim. It is an austere life. The rigourous training includes waking up before dawn, running, hundreds of push-ups, rope climbing and grappling. Tobacco and alcohol are strictly prohibited, phone usage is restricted and pre-marital relationships are considered a distraction. For Jamdade, the first year at the talim was all about gaining weight - and that is an expensive affair. "There are people who weigh 125-130 kilos (275-285 pounds)," he said. "To fight with them, and match their strength, I need to be at least 120 kilos." So when he is not in the ring or training, Jamdade focuses on eating. That includes at least five kilos of goat meat each week, some 70 egg whites, 24 apples, leafy vegetables and dry fruits. He washes that down with at least 21 litres of milk, 14 litres of sweet lemon juice and a protein shake made with almonds, cashews, honey, cardamom seeds, honey and milk. His monthly food bill totals US$350 but the prize money he has won helps his family, who are from a poor farming background. Winnings range from a few hundred dollars to US$1,700 - more than the annual average income of an agricultural household in India. While the popularity of more organised wrestling on mats has grown, Jamdade believes mud bouts have a safe future as a core part of village fairs. "Fairs will always continue," he said. "Mud wrestling will never end." - AFP
Hindustan Times
21 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Hi-tech makeover for 161-year-old Prayagraj Public Library
As part of the initiatives undertaken under the Prayagraj Smart City project to turn the city smart in different phases, the Government Public Library, having historical importance of holding the first meeting of the Legislative Assembly of Northwest Province on January 08, 1887, has now turned hi-tech. Having over 1.25 lakh books, rare manuscripts and bound volumes of newspapers including around 500 books as old as 400 to 500 years, the monitoring and functioning of the library is being done through a customised Library Management Software. According to librarian Dr Gopal Mohan Shukla, the Public Library is the largest in the state as it is the lone library present in Category 5 in UP. 'As per government norms, libraries are classified into five categories based on several parameters including the count of collection of books and manuscripts, daily average footfalls, count of registered members, maximum seating capacity at any given time, annual budgetary allocation, etc.,' he said. The Government Public Library, having a rich collection of nearly 150 manuscripts and famous original works right from the Mughal period, including the Shahnama, a long epic poem written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi, and the Persian translation of Upanishads by Dara Shikoh, etc., is the lone member classified in Category 5 in UP, he added. Presently, over 1.25 lakh books including nearly 500 books as old as 400 to 500 years are being monitored and controlled through a Library Management Software. The books and manuscripts have been barcoded to facilitate their monitoring. Along with this, the IT team of Smart City has also created the library's website — — for the convenience of readers. As per the Manager (IT) of Prayagraj Smart City Project, Mani Shanker Tripathi, the automation of the Government Public Library was done through a budgetary allocation of around ₹2.25 crore, including placement of 22 CCTV cameras in different locations of the library. The 161-year-old library, established in 1864 during the British rule with the approval of the then Lieutenant Governor Sir William Muir in Alfred Park (now known as Chandra Shekhar Azad Park), also has bound volumes of gazettes including: Gazette of India (1900 to 1953), North-Western Provinces Gazette (1860 to 1902), United Provinces Gazette (1903 to 1951), and Uttar Pradesh Gazette (1951 to 2000), besides bound volumes of newspapers as old as The Pioneer of 1864, Bharatvarsh (Bangla) from 1924 to 1969, Punch Magazine from 1925 to 1974, The Round Table from 1910 to 1974, Spectator from 1938 to 1973, Economist from 1948 to 1974, etc. Presently, the library has over 3,000 registered members besides a staff strength of 26.
