In yet another incident of vandalism in Lutyens’ Delhi, on Friday night, the signboards of Akbar Road and Humayun Road were daubed with black paint and plastered with posters of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This act of vandalism, executed by a group of miscreants, seems to have been motivated by Chhava, a new Bollywood film starring Vicky Kaushal which is based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Signboards of Delhi’s Akbar and Humayun Road were defaced with black paint and Chhatrapati Shivaji posters after the Chhava movie release. Authorities swiftly cleaned them, and police are investigating the incident.
The incident was filmed and quickly circulated on social media, showing individuals kicking the signboards, urinating on them, and chanting slogans in support of Shivaji and Sambhaji. They also pasted posters renaming the roads as “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Marg” on the defaced boards and further poured milk over them as an act of symbolism.
Inspired by Chhava
According to police sources, the group of young men involved in the incident had just watched Chhava and were motivated by its depiction of Maratha history. The miscreants were seen chanting for renaming roads after Mughal rulers Akbar and Humayun in honor of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
One of the men in the viral video was heard saying if it isn’t renaming road names, they will uproot every signboard. The vandals pasted posters over the original names and poured milk-a gesture symbolizing reverence in Indian tradition.
Authorities Acted Swiftly
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When the incidents came to the notice of NDMC representatives, they swung into action on Saturday morning, removing the posters and cleaning the signboards. Meanwhile, ongoing investigations have been undertaken by the Delhi police.
- CCTV footage would be analyzed for evidence against the culprits.
- Authorities would know if it was a planned activity or a spur-of-the-moment reaction.
- The police would also keep track of social media on which an audio-visual footage of this incident ended up being shared.
Recurrent Trend: Related Incidents in the Past
This is far from being the first instance of such vandalism in Delhi.
- In the year 2021, Akbar Road’s signboard was also defaced while posters of Samrat Hemu Vikramaditya, another historical figure, were pasted on it.
- Over the years, there have been numerous demands for renaming of roads named after Mughal emperors, each often igniting debates on historical narratives and issues of cultural identity.
- Demands for the renaming of roads evocative of the Mughal era have periodically been put forward by groups, with proponents of the name-change arguing that Indian historical figures ought to be accorded the honor. Critics consider such vandalism as a blatant disregard for law and civic order.
What Is Next?
Authorities have been put on extra alert so as to preempt any further vandalism attempts in the Capital. More stringent surveillance and security around historical signboards may be an immediate fallout. The investigation is still ongoing, and the police would likely take further action against the perpetrators.
The incident, yet again, captures continuing friction over historical narratives in India, where opinions differ about whether roads should be renamed after Mughals, while law enforcement agencies maintain their interest in restoring civic order.
