In a powerful episode of The Proxy ("Aurangzeb is dead. Why won’t we move on?"), Manish Adhikari narrates a column by Kamlesh Singh that explores the persistent cultural obsession with Mughal emperor Aurangzeb three centuries after his death. Despite being long gone, his legacy repeatedly ignites communal conflict and political narratives, often triggered by media portrayals or historical reinterpretations.

The recent release of the Marathi film Chhaava, which dramatizes his execution of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, catalyzed riots in Nagpur and amplified calls by groups like VHP to demolish his tomb even though it's legally protected. This chain reaction illustrates how symbolic figures can be weaponized in current debates and collective memory.

Panel discussions on India Today programmes like To the Point and Newstrack question why praise or criticism of Aurangzeb continues to trigger state-level political fallout even including suspension of a Samajwadi Party MLA.

Singh’s reflection urges society to treat Aurangzeb as history not as a political symbol. Let historians analyze, and let the public cease turning him into a proxy battle over identity. With national priorities waiting, clinging to polarized memories serves no future‑oriented agenda.