By A Mirsab, TwoCircles.net,
Solapur, Maharashtra: In an effort to portray Maratha warrior Shivaji as a secular king, a forty-page book has been released under the name “Shivaji’s Muslim Generals” by a school teacher here implying all communities to again unite under the syncretic traditions known as Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb.
Wajahat Abdul Sattar, 42, Social Association Urdu High School teacher from Solapur authored the book on Muslim commanders in the army of Maratha warrior Shivaji and attempted to bring his secular mindset known.
The book focusing mainly on the contribution of Muslims in the army of Shivaji and his trust on Muslims to appoint them on the highest posts may act as a hindrance for such communal organization if the book attracts large number of readers.
Talking with TwoCircles.net Abdul Sattar told, “There were many Muslim generals who were trusted soldiers but I have tried to briefly profile lives of 13 Muslim warriors who were serving in Shivaji Maharaj’s army.”
He took one year in compiling the book and referred many other books on Shivaji written by various authors – Advocate Syed Gaziuddin, Suresh Patil, Purindare and Pansare.
Explaining the main motive behind writing of such a book, he told,” There is a dire need to make public secular life of Shivaji as communal forces and political parties are using religious emotions of Hindus to disturb social harmony in India especially in Maharashtra state. Through this book people will not fall prey to such instigation by anti-social elements.”
“Right wing people prompt Hindus by telling them that Shivaji was anti-Muslim and that he fought many battles against Mughals especially Adil Shah and Aurangzeb. This book tries to clear this misconception by explaining that the motive behind such battles was always ‘political’ and never ‘religious’”, he added.
The book is released in Urdu language but Maratha organization has expressed full resolve in translating the book in other languages.
It was released on Tuesday evening in a program organized here at Chatrapati Bhavan that was presided over by Pradeep Solanki, President Maharashtra Unit of Sambhaji Brigade.
The program was also attended by Ram Gaekwad, President Maratha Seva Sangh and Farooq Shaikh, Chatrapati Shivaji Muslim Brigade of Solapur chapter.
Over the past few decades, RSS, Shivsena, VHP, Bajarang Dal and other right wing organizations are consistently using Shivaji’s popular name to attract the Hindu people towards them. They try to portray him as a strong Hindu King who was opposed to Islam and thereby try to Saffronize his image to polarize them against the Muslims.
Initial 10,000 copies of the book are published in Urdu language and Maratha Seva Sangh has announced it will publish book in many other languages so as to propagate the secular aspect of Shivaji.
The book claims that Shivaji and his fore fathers respected Muslim saint. Shivaji always respected Muslim saints Yakut Baba, a Sufi Muslim saint was one of the king’s spiritual guides whereas his grandfather used to regularly visit Saint Shah Shareef in Ahmednagar.
The role of some of the Muslim generals – Siddhi Hilal, Darya Sarang, Daulat Khan, Ibrahim Khan, Kazi Hyder, Siddi Ibrahim, Siddi Wahwah, Noorkhan Baig, Shyama Khan, Hussankhan Miyani, Siddi Mistri, Sultan Khan, Dawood Khan and Madari Mehetar is narrated in the book.