Mumbai: An online petition is underway to ask for a Google Doodle on the 17th century warrior king of Maharashtra, Shivaji, who is admired for his bravery and for standing up to India’s Mughal emperors.
Amit Wankhade, an ardent admirer of Shivaji, says in his Change.org petition: “February 19th is the [386th] birth anniversary of Chhatrapati (monarch) Shivaji Maharaj, one of the most respected and revered kings of India. We would love to see a Google Doodle honouring Shivaji on this day.
“I hope Google will gauge the popular sentiment of Indians everywhere and agree to this request to celebrate Shivaji Maharaj in Google-style.”
Social change
The petition through Change.org, one of the world’s largest online platforms for social change, has already resulted in over 25,000 signatures and 71,000 views and the petitioner is eager for more people to become aware of this petition and come forward to support it.
“A Google Doodle on Shivaji will popularise the Maratha king even more across India as he is presently given his due mainly in Maharashtra,” Wankhade told Gulf News. Wankhade hails from Arni village in Yavatmal district and is a member of Sambahi Brigade, a social organisation named after the son of the first Maratha king. He adds, “Though stories of Shivaji’s valour form part of the Marathi people’s upbringing, he is a national hero.”
Wankhade also points out Shivaji’s sense of tolerance; “He was a devout Hindu but respected all religions within his empire.”
Some of the notable Indian personalities honoured by Google Doodle are Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Sarojini Naidu, B.R. Ambedkar, Srinivasa Ramanujan, M.F. Hussain, Jagjit Singh and R.K. Laxman.
In a letter to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Google Doodlers, Wankhade has described Shivaji as the people’s king who went against the might of the Mughal emperors.
