Two different controversies have sparked a debate around the caste of a 9th century Indian ruler called Mihir Bhoj.
A 9th century ruler has become the matter of a simmering controversy due to two separate incidents in two different states. Two communities, the Gujjars and the Rajputs, are at odds and governments have been accused of appropriating the historical icon for political gains.
Statues of the king were protected by sheets of metal and guarded by police. Tension has erupted, protests and a mahapanchayat have taken place, and even a direct descendant of Mihir Bhoj has come out to claim that history is being distorted. Here’s a brief about Mihir Bhoj from the pages of history.
Who is Samrat Mihir Bhoj?
The 9th century Indian emperor Mihir Bhoj, also called Bhoja I, belongs to the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty. He is known as a warrior, conqueror and empire builder. His capital was at Panchala (present day Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh).
At his peak, the emperor’s rule stretched from the Narmada River to the Sutlej River, from Bengal to Kashmir, as per different historical documents. A tenth century Persian text noted that Mihir Bhoj, the powerful ‘Rai of Qinnauj’ had established his supremacy over most Indian rules. His army is written to have had 1.5 lakh cavalry and 800 war elephants.
One Arab chronicle mentions Mihir Bhoj as a “bitter enemy of the Arab invaders.”
Texts mention Mijir Bhoj as being devoted to God Vishnu and used the title Ādivarāha.
What is the recent controversy involving Mihir Bhoj?
Two different controversies have sparked a debate around the caste of Mihir Bhoj.
In Uttar Pradesh, a statue that was unveiled by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Gautam Buddha Nagar, was followed by protests from local groups belonging to the Rajput community. The Rajput outrage came after Mihir Bhoj was referred to by a local MLA as a Gujjar Samrat (Emperor).
Following the protests, the word Gujjar was reportedly removed from the name of the rule written on the plaque on the statue. This sparked a protest from the Gujjar community which staked claim to the lineage of Mihir Bhoj and demanded his name be rewritten with the prefix Gujjar Samrat. Security was placed to protect the statue.
A few days earlier, the region around Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh saw protests from Rajput groups after a statue of Mihir Bhoj with the prefix Gujjar Samrat was unveiled by the Gujjar community. As tension grew, the authorities had to shield the statue with metal sheets.
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 "DNA Explainer: Who is Samrat Mihir Bhoj and why is he caught up in controversy?")
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