Akshay Kumar claims Indian text books have nothing on Hindu Kings. Twitter reacts

Akshay Kumar’s biggest yet and the most expensive film Samrat Prithviraj is set to grace the theatres on June 3, 2022. The actor is on a promotional blitz around the country, with several political heavyweights like Union Home Minister Amit Shah watching the premiere and praising the film.

During one such promotional interview, Akshay Kumar made a statement that has sent the Twitterati into a frenzy.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Akshay Kumar said that Indian school history textbooks lack content on Hindu Kings and mostly focus on Mughal “invader” dynasties.

Kumar’s statement was in response to his upcoming movie, Samrat Prithviraj, which is based on the 12th-century king Prithviraj Chauhan.

This statement of Kumar, sent Twitter into a frenzy. While some Twitterati argued that Akshay Kumar is wrong and textbooks, in particular NCERT textbooks, have several chapters on Hindu Kings, others also came to the defence of the actor.

Some even mocked Akshay Kumar for his Canadian nationality, asking him whether he was talking about Canadian history textbooks.

A few Twitterati also called out Akshay Kumar for using religious sentiments to further his business and use it according to his convenience, comparing his promotional activity from the film OMG: Oh My God! to now.  

Others dug up his old statements when he had told stories of failing exams and not focusing on education.

But some Twitterati also came to the defence of the actor.

THE STORY OF PRITHVIRAJ CHAUHAN

Prithviraj Chauhan has been a popular figure in pop culture when it comes to depicting historical India. He ruled over the territory of Sapadalaksha, with Ajmer as his capital in present-day Rajasthan, during the 12th century.

Historical accounts of Prithviraj Chauhan are but very few. Historians have been forced to rely on poems and ballads to trace the trail of the Hindu king through history. However, the poems and other literary accounts of the king are not known for accuracy and have been quite contradictory as well.

The movie Samrat Prithviraj is also based on one such poem said to have been composed in the 16th century called Prithviraj Raso, which tells the tale of war, romance, and bravery.

The movie intends to focus on the brave fight Prithviraj Chauhan put up against Mughal invader Mohammad Ghori, banking on what is mostly called the myth, that he was the last Hindu King before the Mughal rule began. However, according to historians and reports, the poem Prithviraj Raso largely focuses on the conflict between two Hindu Kings – Prithviraj Chauhan and Jaychand of Kannauj.

Jaychand of Kannauj is the father of Sanyogita, who elopes with Prithviraj Chauhan against her father’s wishes. It is said that hundreds of Prithviraj Chauhan’s soldiers laid down their lives to ensure the two elope.

Later, Jaychand of Kannauj forms an alliance with Mohammed of Ghor to defeat Chauhan and they were successful.

There are several discrepancies too when it comes to Prithviraj Raso. One of them is that Jaychand was not the ruler of Kannauj.