1858 martyr in midst of row in MP

The Lodhi community of Madhya Pradesh has threatened to take to the streets, accusing the state Government of insulting Rani Avantibai, who belongs to the community and had laid her life while fighting the British in 1858.

The Lodhi community of Madhya Pradesh has threatened to take to the streets, accusing the state Government of insulting Rani Avantibai, who belongs to the community and had laid her life while fighting the British in 1858.

At the heart of the contention is a letter issued by Madhya Pradesh Mandi Board to the Chairman of Gotegaon Marketing Yard, Daduram Patel. Patel had organised the unveiling of Avantibai’s statue on the yard’s premises in Narsinghpur district at a massive function attended by over 25,000 farmers in July 2006.

Following a complaint of financial

irregularities against Patel, the Board had sacked him stating that the installation was illegal. It is the removal order that is behind the latest controversy. Dated June 23, 2007, it says, without elaborating, that “Rani Avantibai’s statue is not covered under the Madhya Pradesh Religious/Great Personalities Place Control Act”. The community has interpreted this to mean that Avantibai is not a great personality for the Government.

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A Board official told The Indian Express that Patel had admitted in his reply to the show-cause notice that he had raised money from the public for the installation, which is illegal. It also violated the guidelines laid by the Culture Department, and only a part of the money raised was spent on it.

Ironically, the Madhya Pradesh Government has declared Avantibai’s martyrdom day as an optional holiday, and a host of projects have also been named after her. The Government of India has also issued a stamp in her memory. Moreover, a grant of Rs 1 crore has been announced to develop her place of martyrdom. The community alleges that Patel was removed only because he is a sympathiser of Uma Bharati, who had unveiled the statue.

The Madhya Pradesh Lodhi Khatriya (Rajput) Sabha’s executive met in Bhopal on Sunday and gave the Government 15 days to clear its stand on the issue. “If Avantibai has not been included in the list of great personalities, it should be done forthwith by amending the Act. If it’s a mistake of the IAS officer who signed the order, then he should be removed,” state president Rajbahadur Singh said.

Patel, who had challenged the Board’s decision to remove him, got a stay order on Friday.