Nagpur has become the latest flashpoint of sectarian violence in India, with Hindu nationalist groups demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb. Tensions have escalated, resulting in violent clashes, injuries, and a partial curfew. The controversy surrounding Aurangzeb’s legacy is not new, but recent events highlight a broader trend of historical revisionism and the rising influence of Hindu nationalism under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
The recent violence in Nagpur is rooted in longstanding grievances over India’s Mughal history. Hindu nationalist groups such as the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) claim Aurangzeb was a tyrant who persecuted Hindus and that his tomb should not be preserved. These groups have renewed demands for its removal, leading to protests and clashes.
In response, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) took steps to protect the tomb. On Thursday, ASI officials covered parts of the structure with tin sheets in Maharashtra’s Chhattrapati Sambhajinagar district. Wire fencing was installed the previous night, and officials have confirmed that a circular fence will be placed around the site.
Meanwhile, Nagpur collector Vipin Itankar stated that while normalcy is returning, curfews remain in place in certain areas. The situation reflects the broader rise in sectarian tensions across India.
Hindu Nationalist Claims and Historical Revisions
The demand to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb is part of a larger effort by Hindu nationalist organizations to rewrite Indian history. Similar claims have been made about other historical monuments:
- Taj Mahal: Hindu nationalists argue that the iconic monument was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, despite the lack of credible historical evidence.
- Gyanvapi Mosque (Varanasi): Located in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency, Hindu groups claim this mosque was built over a demolished Hindu temple.
- Ayodhya Mosque Demolition: In 1992, the Babri Masjid was torn down by Hindu extremists who asserted that it stood on the birthplace of the Hindu deity Ram. The Supreme Court’s 2019 ruling allowed for the construction of a Hindu temple on the site, a decision celebrated by Modi’s government.
Leaders of Hindu nationalist organizations have intensified their rhetoric against Aurangzeb and other Islamic figures from India’s history. Prominent figures in the VHP and RSS have openly called for the removal of Islamic monuments, arguing that they symbolize centuries of oppression. These statements have further inflamed communal tensions.
Muslim scholars and historians argue that Aurangzeb’s portrayal as a religious tyrant is a politically motivated distortion. While his reign included policies that affected non-Muslims, many historians emphasize that his actions were based on political strategy rather than religious zeal.
Historian Audrey Truschke, in her book Aurangzeb: The Life and Legacy of India’s Most Controversial King, notes that Aurangzeb employed thousands of Hindus in his administration and even granted land for Hindu temples. She argues that his negative portrayal is largely a result of British colonial and nationalist reinterpretations.
Since Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, India’s Muslim population—comprising approximately 14% of the country’s total—has faced increasing discrimination and political exclusion. In the 2019 general elections, only around 5% of Members of Parliament were Muslim, highlighting their stark underrepresentation.
Reports of mob lynchings over cow slaughter allegations, restrictions on religious practices, and controversial laws such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) have exacerbated fears of state-sanctioned discrimination. The Modi government’s support for Hindu nationalist causes has emboldened extremist groups, leading to a sharp rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric and violence.
The current sectarian tensions are reminiscent of the 2002 Gujarat riots, one of the most horrific instances of communal violence in India’s recent history. The riots erupted after a train carrying Hindu pilgrims was set on fire, killing 59 people. The retaliatory violence led to over a thousand deaths, most of them Muslims and left thousands more displaced.
Narendra Modi, who was Gujarat’s Chief Minister at the time, faced allegations of inaction and complicity. While India’s Supreme Court later cleared him of wrongdoing, the riots have remained a defining issue in his political career, with many still holding him responsible for the failure to prevent the violence.
The recent developments in Nagpur highlight the growing sectarian tensions fueled by historical grievances, political motivations, and Hindu nationalist ambitions. The decision by the ASI to fence Aurangzeb’s tomb reflects the ongoing struggle over India’s past and its impact on the present.
As Hindu nationalist groups push for a reinterpretation of Indian history that diminishes Islamic contributions, India’s Muslim population continues to face systemic marginalization. Whether the country can preserve its secular and pluralistic identity in the face of rising religious polarization remains an open question.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Coverpage’s editorial stance.
