“Did you hear? They’ve brought out a movie about Aurangzeb’s brutality!” cried my neighbour, his eyes widening with excitement, as though the Mughal emperor was about to storm into our apartment complex.
“Oh wonderful,” I muttered, “just what we need, another reason for people to glare suspiciously at each other across the street.”
Now, don’t get me wrong. History is important. Understanding our past is vital. But when governments start digging up centuries-old grievances like a child unearthing buried treasure, we should ask ourselves why. Are they trying to teach us a lesson in peace, or are they just tossing a few communal sparks into dry tinder to get votes?
“But Bob,” my neighbour protested, “people need to know the truth!”
“Yes,” I replied, “but what exactly is ‘the truth’? Is it the part where Aurangzeb was ruthless and cruel, or the part where he was also a brilliant administrator? Or better still, the truth that all rulers, no matter their faith or background, had their fair share of good and bad?”
“But what about justice?” he pressed on.
“Justice?” I laughed. “Are you going to haul Aurangzeb to court now? Summon his ghost and ask him to apologize in prime-time news?”
The truth, dear readers, is this: governments that dwell on historical wrongs to stir up division are not leading us forward; they’re dragging us backward. They’re like drivers who keep staring at the rearview mirror, convinced they can reach their destination without crashing. And what happens? Bang! Another communal riot, another bitter argument over dinner tables, and another generation taught to blame their neighbours for something that happened 400 years ago.
Instead, what we need is leadership like Nelson Mandela’s. Imagine if Mandela had decided to spend his presidency recounting every act of cruelty inflicted on black South Africans under apartheid. The nation would have been smouldering in anger.
Instead, Mandela chose to forgive. He built bridges, not bonfires.
Forgiveness is strength. It takes courage to rise above anger, to hold out a hand of friendship rather than a fist of vengeance.”
History should teach us one lesson above all: Never repeat the mistakes of the past. We can’t erase what happened, but we can choose not to let it poison our present or ruin our future.
“So, what should we do once such films are out?” my neighbour asked, his frown softening.
“Simple,” I smiled. “Watch them if you like, learn from them if you must, but don’t let them make you hate your present neighbour. Because the past is gone. It’s what you do today that shapes tomorrow.”
As I returned home, I imagined Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj himself looking down in all his majesty from a cloud above, his warrior face calm yet wise. “Yes,” he seemed to say, “I want my people to move on, and I want them to prosper by doing so. That is how true strength is built…!”
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Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.
Beautiful thoughts Bob, God bless you 🙏🏻
It is really sad that Aurangzeb was respected and there is riot to prove him good.All Bharatiya should blame him unanimously.And see that his deed will never be repeated.Live harmonously.
Too many untruths about him are out. His own trusted army general was a Hindu and he respected Hindus and gave 40% of the prominent positions in his admin to Hindus. The max among mogul rulers
Rulers will come and go but what they sow or contribut will remain for subjects to relish or hate just as you said of Nelson Mandela. Different leaders have different teachings of values and their choices have outcomes which are either disastrous or consequentially good. It’s a cycle of good or bad leadersbad who are chosen but the ultimate fact or truth is that kings’ hearts are in Gods hands. He very well knows when to remove or retain one. Underlying value system is ultimately rooted in LOVE not hate.
Just a thought well echoed…
Learn from past to ensure a smooth harmonious future and forgive the past misdeeds
I hated Aurangzeb when I studied history in school. I loved Asoka, Harsha, the Indus Valley Civilization,all the reforms made to help the farmers, the girls and children,by theBritish.If the kings hadn’t to fight each other they could’ve fought off raiders, needn’t have been annexed and North couldn’t have dominated the South as they’re doing.
“It’s what we do today that shapes tomorrow”
Learning from the mistake of others and try to avoid the same mistakes will result in productivity.
Beautifully written, dear Bobby. How to share this with everyone in this beautiful country of ours, is the question. Is there a way? Maybe, the same message in different languages in different ways and means. Sad, even language has become an issue as of now…..