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Journalism of Courage
Panda Tai Sawant has lived in Umbroshi, at the foothills of Pratapgad, all her life. The 61-year-old has seen the annual uruj procession to the Bijapur warrior Afzal Khan8217;s tomb and the more recent celebration of the Shiv Pratap din the day Chattrapati Shivaji killed Afzal Khan.
Her wrinkled face breaks into a grimace as she asks, 8216;8216;The tomb has always been here. What is this fuss about?8217;8217;
All she knows is that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad8217;s VHP battlecry to destroy the Bijapur warrior Afzal Khan8217;s tomb has crashed her meagre peanut selling business for over a week since September 8.
On September 12, when the VHP aspired to create history, yet again, the protest returned. But, in the transparent speeches of the hardliners, and the agitated faces of the activists, Panda tai8217;s question was answered.
Anita Yevole, an activist of the Durga Vahini, a right winged women8217;s organisation, affiliated to the VHP, came along with 700 strong crowd including women, children from the interiors like Latur, Beed, Jalgaon, Osmanabad to Satara for the Chalo Pratapgad mission.
Anita, a BCom graduate known as a forefront activist in Durga Vahini, hasn8217;t read a book on Shivaji but is adamant on her party8217;s version of history.
Many among the young VHP, Bajrang Dal Tee-shirt wearing activists, sporting bright red tikas that fell prey to the severe police lathi charge were like her, ranks fed on Shivaji Maharaj hysteria and free food.
The Pune corporator and the local leader of the Pratapgad Utsav Samiti, Milind Ekbote spelled out the right wing concerns in his speech that got the mob on its feet.
8216;8216;This year votes should not be given to treacherous parties, who supported Afzal Khan8230;.8217;8217;
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HISTORY8217;S WARRIOR
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| 8226; The Afzal Khan tomb at Pratapgad is in the list of ancient monument. Some historians trace the tomb to the reign of Shivaji 8226; The land around the tomb was part of this complex, much before 1912 8226; The Hazrat Mohammed Afzal Khan Memorial Society has been looking after pilgrims since 1952 |
Ekbote, a usual suspect and a mischief maker has a retraining order against him, he cannot enter into the periphery of the fort.
Before the VHP marked its victim, the Hazrat Mohammed Afzal Khan Memorial Society, the trust that took care of the pilgrims, was doing its job since 1952.
8216;8216;A tradition for the last 200-odd years has regarded Afzal Khan as a saint, a pious man. The tomb had acquired a reputation of appeasing ones wishes8217;8217;, explains Ahmed Maklai, one of the members of the trust based in Mumbai.
The trust has currently gone into hiding, but the members claim that they will fight for the trust8217;s existence.
The glorification, that the local hardliners found difficult to digest, suddenly four years ago was the tradition of the Sufi warrior Afzal Khan. The annual procession to the tomb that called faithfuls from all religions to Pratapgad in December, a 50-year old tradition had to be banned in the face of increasing communal tension.
Now, the tomb lies vanquished of all its 8216;8216;glory8217;8217;, chandeliars have been removed long back, as has the tomb board calling the warrior 8216;8216;hazrat8217;8217;. And, the saffron brigade may even gets its wish to celebrate Shiv Paratap din the day Shivaji killed Afzal Khan as a state festival.
The long festering issue is far from over.
