“Jodha-Akbar Marriage a Lie”: Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade Questions Mughal-Rajput Union

Udaipur: Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade has stirred historical debate by claiming that the widely believed marriage between Mughal Emperor Akbar and Rajput princess Jodha Bai is a fabrication influenced by early British historians.

Speaking at a public event in Udaipur, Bagade said, “It is said that Jodha and Akbar got married, and a film was also made on this story. History books say the same thing, but it is a lie… There was a king named Bharmal, and he got the daughter of a maid married to Akbar.”

He argued that there is no mention of Jodha Bai in the Akbarnama, the official court chronicle of Akbar’s reign. While historical records confirm Akbar’s marriage to Raja Bharmal of Amer’s daughter in 1562—believed to be a political alliance—Bagade insisted the woman was not named Jodha and that popular narratives have distorted facts.

“The British changed the history of our heroes. They did not write it properly, and their version of history was initially accepted. Later, some Indians wrote history, but it was still influenced by the British,” the Governor added.

Bagade also rejected the claim that Maharana Pratap ever sought peace with Akbar. “Maharana Pratap never compromised his self-respect. In history, more is taught about Akbar and less about Maharana Pratap,” he asserted.