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Israel to install statue of Indian Maratha king as gesture of friendship
The https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel">Israeli consulate in Mumbai announced plans to install a statue of https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/india">Indian Maratha ruler Shivaji in a major Israeli city, following a meeting between the consul general and the chief minister of the Indian state of Maharashtra last week.
“India & Israel are ancient civilisations and are proud of each other's history,” the consulate stated in a post on X revealing the initiative.
The 17th-century Indian king, referred to by his title of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has recently been recast by Indian Hindu right-wing groups as a founding icon of Hindu nationalism and armed opposition to Muslim rule, although scholars have https://southasia.ucla.edu/history-politics/mughals-and-medieval/shivaji-politics-history/">contested this reading as ahistoric.
According to Israeli Consul General Yaniv Revach’s statement on X, the announcement was meant to mark “Shivrajyabhishek Din”, the anniversary of the coronation of Shivaji in 1674, marking the establishment of the Maratha empire.
While some historians https://thefederal.com/category/news/shivaji-inclusive-not-hindu-rashtra-ram-puniyani-239884">contend that the empire’s establishment was politically motivated, Hindu nationalists have framed the moment as a starting point for a Hindu nation in opposition to Muslim presence in India.
In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/in-spirit-of-friendship-israel-to-install-chhatrapati-shivaji-maharajs-statue-in-a-big-city-11610469">reported by Indian media, Revach said that “we believe that a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Israel would serve as a powerful symbol of the close ties between Israel and India”.
The Consul added that the statue would be “especially meaningful given the historical links between Maharashtra and the Indian Jewish community”.
Revach also said the initiative sought to generate greater appreciation for Shivaji and Indian history among the Israeli public, reciprocating the “great respect in the eyes of [Indian] people towards Israel and our national heroes”.
Proud to announce that we will install a statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Israel.
To make this project befitting to the grand character of Maharaj, Consul General https://x.com/yanivrev?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@yanivrev met Hon'ble CM of Maharashtra Shri https://x.com/Dev_Fadnavis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dev_Fadnavis and requested help of experts.
Hon'ble CM… https://t.co/zWLfXxjFj5">pic.twitter.com/zWLfXxjFj5
— 🇮🇱 Israel in Mumbai (@israelinMumbai) https://x.com/israelinMumbai/status/2063194397991490037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2026
Maharashtra CM Fadnavis, a member of the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Hindu nationalist paramilitary organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) praised the consul’s announcement after their meeting, offering “complete support for this historic initiative”.
The Indian state of Maharashtra, birthplace of the RSS and the founding ideologues of Hindu nationalism, has maintained a strong relationship with the Israeli government and military.
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https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/activists-raise-alarm-over-new-military-grade-steel-shipments-india-israel">Read More »
In 2009, a delegation consisting of top officials in the Mumbai police https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/fabricating-homeland-security-israel-india-book-review">travelled to Israel to learn about “fighting terror” and obtained upgraded weaponry after Israeli lobbying and assistance.
The Israeli consulate’s recent decision follows a long pattern of growing diplomatic, military and ideological proximity between India and Israel.
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, for becoming “India's longest-serving elected prime minister”.
The government of India has continued to face https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/activists-raise-alarm-over-new-military-grade-steel-shipments-india-israel">pressure from activists and civil society groups for its ongoing arms shipments to Israel, including throughout Israel’s genocide in Gaza.