Jodha-Akbar marriage story a ‘lie’, emperor married daughter of Amer palace maid: Rajasthan governor

Challenging another widely-accepted belief, Bagde rejected claims that Rajput ruler Maharana Pratap wrote a treaty letter to Akbar, calling it completely misleading

Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde, speaking at a public event on Wednesday, claimed that the marriage between Mughal emperor Akbar and Amer princess Jodha was a “lie” as he accused British historians of distorting India’s history.

Speaking on the eve of Maharana Pratap Jayanti, Bagde said, “It is said that Jodha and Akbar got married and a film was also made on this story. History books also say the same thing but it is a lie.”

Bagde further stated that Akbar was married to the daughter of a maid, which was arranged by king Bharmal of Amer. He also cited the absence of Jodha Bai’s absence from Akbarnama to support his claim.

“There was a king named Bharmal and he got the daughter of a maid married to Akbar,” Bagde was quoted as saying by PTI.

Amer or Amber was a Rajput kingdom near present-day Jaipur and ruled by the Kachwaha Rajputs, before Sawai Jai Singh II shifted the capital to Jaipur in 1727.

Challenging another widely-accepted belief, Bagde rejected claims that Rajput ruler Maharana Pratap wrote a treaty letter to Akbar, calling it completely misleading.

“Maharana Pratap never compromised with his self-respect. In history, more is taught about Akbar and less about Maharana Pratap,” he claimed.

While history was misrepresented due to the influence of Britishers, Bagde said, the situation seems to be improving now thanks to the new National Education Policy.

“In the new National Education Policy, efforts are being made to prepare the new generation for future challenges while preserving our culture and glorious history,” he said.

Bagade further praised Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji as symbols of bravery and patriotism, saying the country’s history would be massively different if they had been contemporaries.

(With PTI inputs)