Purandare was an authority on the Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
He also said that Chhatrapati Shivaji's life was all about revolting against the atrocities, and the fight for 'swaraj' (self-rule) started by him continues still today.
Reaching out to tribals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lauded their contribution to Indian culture through the ages and said Lord Ram drew inspiration from them during his exile as he slammed the Congress for "neglecting" adivasis during its previous rules.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a deity of Maharashtra and does not belong to any specific community, state Bharatiya Janata Party chief Nitin Gadkari has said, as controversy raged over the appointment of a noted historian on a committee to build a giant memorial of the Maratha king. The great Maratha warrior does not belong to any specific community and he never indulged in casteism during his rule, he said.
The 73th edition of the annual awards were recently held in Mumbai.
Wing Commander Suresh Damodar Karnik (retired), hero of the 1971 war, has politely declined an invitation extended by Shiv Shahir Babasaheb Purandare for a function to be held on May 28 in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The state government is worried that the agitation may pose a serious threat to it, reports Sanjay Jog.
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