JAIPUR: A new edition of the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) Class XII history textbook omits reference to Alauddin Khilji seeing Rajput queen Padmini in mirror.
According to India Express report, the 2018 edition of ‘Bharat Ka Itihas’ (History of India) appeared in the market recently, has chapter ‘Mughal Akraman: Prakar aur Prabhav’ (Mughal invasion: Type an effects) under the section ‘Padmini ki Kahaani’ (story of Padmini) has no mention of an alleged incident when Khilji saw Padmini reflection in a mirror.
“Aath varsh tak ghera daalne ke baad bhi jab Sultan Chittor ko nahi jeet paaya to usne prastav rakha ki yadi ussey Padmini ka pratibimb hi dikha diya jaye to vah Delhi laut jayega (Even after laying siege to Chittor for eight years, when the Sultan couldn’t win, he proposed a that if he is allowed to see the reflection of Padmini, then he will return to Delhi),” the 2017 edition of the book said.
Thereafter, it stated, “Rana ne is prastaav ko swikar kar liya. Darpan me Padmini ka pratibimb dekhkar jab Alauddin wapis laut raha thha, us samay usne Ratan Singh ko qaid kar liye aur rihai ke badle Padmini ki mang ki (The Rana accepted this proposal. When Alauddin was returning after seeing Padmini’s reflection in a mirror, he captured Ratan Singh and asked for Padmini in exchange of his freedom).”
The changes come a year after a nationwide protest against the Bollywood movie “Padmaavat” directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.