‘History Books Are Wrong’: Rajasthan Governor Calls Jodha-Akbar Marriage a ‘Fabrication’

Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade has sparked controversy by claiming that the marriage between Mughal Emperor Akbar and Rajput princess Jodha Bai was a “fabrication” introduced by British historians, challenging widely accepted historical narratives during a public event in Udaipur.

The governor argued that there is no mention of the famous Jodha-Akbar marriage in the Akbarnama, the official chronicle of Akbar’s reign, and blamed early British influence for creating historical inaccuracies that continue to be taught today.

Speaking at the public event, Bagade directly contradicted popular historical accounts and Bollywood portrayals of the Mughal-Rajput alliance.

“It is said that Jodha and Akbar got married, and a film was also made on this story. History books say the same thing, but it is a lie… There was a king named Bharmal, and he got the daughter of a maid married to Akbar,” the governor claimed.

He further alleged that British historians deliberately altered Indian historical narratives. “The British changed the history of our heroes. They did not write it properly, and their version of history was initially accepted. Later, some Indians wrote history, but it was still influenced by the British,” Bagade stated.

According to established historical records, Akbar married the daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amer (modern-day Jaipur) in 1562. While her birth name remains unclear in historical documentation, sources suggest names like Harkha Bai or Harkhan Champavati.

Most historians have recorded this union as a strategic political alliance that strengthened the Mughal Empire by securing loyalty from powerful Rajput rulers. After marriage, she received the title Mariyam-uz-Zamani, meaning ‘Mary of the Age’, and later became the mother of Jahangir, Akbar’s successor.

However, some historians acknowledge that the name ‘Jodha Bai’ may be a later misnomer, possibly confused with Jahangir’s Rajput wife from Jodhpur.

The governor also contested historical accounts regarding Maharana Pratap, the legendary Rajput ruler known for his resistance against Mughal rule.

“Maharana Pratap never compromised his self-respect. In history, more is taught about Akbar and less about Maharana Pratap,” Bagade claimed, calling historical accounts of any treaty between Pratap and Akbar “completely misleading.”

Bagade linked his comments to ongoing educational reforms, suggesting that efforts are underway to address what he termed historical inaccuracies.

He pointed to the new National Education Policy as a vehicle for change, stating that attempts are being made to prepare future generations while “preserving our culture and glorious history.”

The governor’s claims touch on ongoing academic debates about historical interpretation and source reliability. While the Akbarnama, written by Akbar’s court historian Abul Fazl, is considered a primary source, historians often cross-reference multiple contemporary accounts to establish historical facts.

The relationship between colonial-era historiography and Indian historical narratives remains a subject of scholarly discussion, with some arguing for reexamination of certain historical interpretations.

Such statements from high-ranking officials often reflect broader political discourse about historical identity and cultural nationalism. The Jodha-Akbar narrative has been popularized through films, television series, and literature, making it a recognizable part of Indian cultural consciousness.