India’s history manipulated, doctored to create 'monopoly of few': VP Jagdeep Dhankhar

New Delhi: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday claimed that India's history has been "manipulated and doctored" to create a "monopoly of few" that claims they gained independence for the country.

Addressing a function on the occasion of the 138th birth anniversary of Raja Mahendra Pratap here, he also said people have been "taught very differently" about the foundations of India's independence.

"History books have done injustice to our heroes. Our history has been manipulated and doctored, creating a monopoly of few that gained us independence. It is an unbearable pain on our conscience. It's a burden on our soul and heart. I am sure we have to bring about a big change," he said.

He said the country has "miserably failed" to recognise the heroic feats of Pratap and history has not given him the place which he deserves.

"If you look at the foundations of our independence, we have been taught very differently. Foundations of our independence are built upon supreme sacrifices of the people like Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh and other unsung heroes or not so well-sung heroes," he said.

Expressing concern over the "way of history writing marked by the unfortunate tendency of overlooking certain national heroes", he said one cannot cannot nurture history "by bestowing indulgent, sycophant, credit rating to those who played role, of course but not the role with others played...We cannot allow our heroes to be downsized."

Asking why incidents like the Mangar Hill massacre were "inadequately chronicled", he also said BR Ambedkar was recognised with Bharat Ratna only in 1990.

"Imagine the mindset...There was a political shift. And then recently, Charan Singh, Karpoori Thakur. They live in our hearts. They dominate our minds. They believed in the farmer. They believed in rural India. Again, it was my great fortune to be associated with governance as Vice-President and Chairman, Rajya Sabha. These two great souls of Bharat were awarded Bharat Ratna," he said.