Dalit Writer Kusum Meghwal Threatened Over Book on Maharana Pratap

In the book, she claims that the king belonged to the Bhil community and was elevated as Rana of Mewar later. Image used for representational purposes. (Photo: iStock)

Dalit writer Kusum Meghwal has alleged she has been receiving death threats from a few groups over her new book on Rajput warrior king Maharana Pratap.

In the book, she claims that the king belonged to the Bhil community and was elevated as Rana of Mewar later.

She has claimed that she received threats from Karni Sena, which was also involved in the ransacking of the sets of Padmavati and the attack on its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali in January.

According to the complaint filed by the 69-year-old writer at Ambamata police station in Udaipur, she had been receiving threat calls from a few fringe groups since the past week over her portrayal of the Rajput warrior in her book Maharana Pratap Bhil Rajputra The – Kshatriya Ya Rajput Nahi.

Meghwal claimed that she was also being bullied on social media.

The writer had lodged a complaint following which I have asked the police official concerned to investigate the matter. She has given us the phone numbers and a probe is underway.

Rajendra Prasad, SP, Udaipur

An author of over 65 books, Meghwal alleged that she had received calls from individuals claiming to be Thakurs and from Karni Sena.

I have been getting calls from unknown numbers who are threatening to kill me for writing the book. Some of the callers claim they are from the Karni Sena while others say they are Thakurs. I have not ventured out of my house in the last seven days.

Kusum Meghwal’s complaint

The Ambedkarite writer further stated that the word 'Bhil' comes from Sanskrit word 'Bhilla', which means brave and martial.

The Bhil community has traditionally been spread all over Mewar and are known for their martial prowess.

The BJP-led Rajasthan government had earlier raked up controversy while stating that Maharana Pratap had won the famous battle of Haldighati, contrary to conventional wisdom that his adversary Mughal emperor Akbar was the winner.