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Historian claims it is the character of Muslim conqueror Alauddin Khilji that has been tainted and not of Queen Padmini (Padmavati) in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s divisive film ‘Padmaavat’.
This crooked representation seems to be a part of a larger scheme of an ongoing movement in the country that distorts history by portraying Muslim rulers as the antagonist, without any reference to authentic information or source.
As opposed to what actual history dictates, Alauddin Khilji is portrayed in the movie as an uncivilized and barbaric ruler. Historian Rana Safvi presented proof from history that openly contradicted Khilji’s depiction in the movie.
She mentioned other series of attempt pursued by three senior ministers from Rajasthan that backed the proposal to represent Maharana Pratap as the winner of the Battle of Haldighati against Akbar.
She further added that the fierce depiction of Khilji in the movie was merely to present Mewar King Rawal Ratan Singh as the protagonist and a sophisticated ruler.
She said that it was under Khilji’s rule the Delhi Sultanate heavily drew from Persia, one of the oldest and most sophisticated civilizations of all time.
“The rulers followed the exact code of conduct and etiquette as in Persia. It would have been very formal — the eating, dining and sartorial choices,” said Safvi.
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“Khilji was aware he was cruel but he was not the kind to be running after women and then conquering kingdoms. He was only interested in expansions and conquests”. Safvi in her statement referred to Khilji as a cruel imperialist and good military strategist.
“He was trying to strike terror into the hearts of others. He wasn’t religious either. He perhaps may have been the only king who didn’t go to read prayers at Friday congregations,” she pointed out.
Historian claims it is the character of Muslim conqueror Alauddin Khilji that has been tainted and not of Queen Padmini (Padmavati) in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s divisive film ‘Padmaavat’.
Moreover, Safvi added that famous poet Amir Khusro was flourished during his era in the 13th century. The poet’s detailed account of Khilji’s rule does not mention him as a barbaric ruler.
Bhansali’s movie ‘Padmaavat’ was inspired by a poem penned down by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi two centuries after Khilji’s death.
Arunima Gopinath, a professor in an Indian university pointed that it cannot be ignored that the epic poem Padmavati was penned centuries after Khilji’s attack. Jayasi wrote in Awadhi, not any Rajasthani dialect. He belonged to a different region.
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Among others historian, Heema Chaturvedi from Allahabad University believes that misrepresentation of Khilji is an attempt to twist history.
“The rulers followed the exact code of conduct and etiquette as in Persia. It would have been very formal — the eating, dining and sartorial choices,” said Safvi.
“There is a clear pattern to color Islamic rulers as villains with no reference to any facts based on authentic sources of information.” “History cannot be rewritten in any way, which is what they are doing,” Chaturvedi added.
She mentioned other series of attempt pursued by three senior ministers from Rajasthan that backed the proposal to represent Maharana Pratap as the winner of the Battle of Haldighati against Akbar.