Bhopal: Historians may be divided on whether Rani Padmavati existed but Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday announced the story of the Rajput queen would be made a part of the school curriculum in the state so that students can learn “correct history”
Chouhan, who was attending an event in Ujjain organized to honour him for banning the film’s release in the state, said that Padmavati was a Rajmata and the coming generation should learn about her valour and sacrifice.
“Life saga of Rajmata Padmavati will be included in the school curriculum from the next (academic) session so that the coming generations could know her bravery,” he said after meeting a delegation of Karni Sena.
The BJP leader had on Monday announced that the movie, facing stiff opposition from the Rajput community, would not be allowed to be screened in the state if it contained scenes "breaching the honour" of the queen or showed "distorted facts".
Chouhan also announced the institution of 'Rashtramata Padmavati Award' for those doing “outstanding work for protecting the honour of women" and the 'Maharana Pratap Award' for bravery.
He also promised that a memorial of Padmavati would be constructed at a site in the state capital where a memorial for the country's brave soldiers has been proposed.
"If there are scenes breaching the honour of Queen Padmavati, the movie will not be exhibited on the land of Madhya Pradesh," Chouhan had said.
The Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed film has been mired in controversies since its shooting began earlier this year. The director was roughed up by members of Rajput Karni Sena in Rajasthan.
The first poster of the movie, featuring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in the lead, was released in October this year, kicking up a storm as various Rajput groups accused Bhansali of "distorting" historical facts under the guise of freedom of expression.
Following the controversy, the makers of "Padmavati" deferred its December 1 release.
At the centre of the controversy is an alleged romantic dream sequence between the Rajput queen and Alauddin Khilji's characters in the film. Bhansali has repeatedly denied the existence of any such scene but that has not stopped the raging protests and threats against the film's makers and actors.
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