Tipu Sultan, Anglo-Mysore wars missing from NCERT's new Class 8 social science book
While Mysore's resistance is missing, the book includes early uprisings like the Sannyasi-Fakir rebellion, Kol Uprising, and Santhal rebellion. A separate chapter on the Marathas mentions the Anglo-Maratha wars and states that the British 'took India from the Marathas more than from the Mughals or any other power.'NCERT'S EXPLANATION FOR THE OMISSIONMichel Danino, chair of the NCERT textbook development group, clarified that the current Class 8 textbook aims to give an overview rather than exhaustive detail. 'We fall back into the old mode of cramming textbooks with dates and wars if we try to include everything,' he said. On whether Tipu Sultan might appear in Part 2, he added, 'Probably not.'One of the key features of the new book is its focus on the economic impact of colonialism. Citing economist Utsa Patnaik, it claims that colonial powers extracted wealth equivalent to $45 trillion (in today's value) from India between 1765 and 1938. It also refutes the common narrative that infrastructure like railways and telegraphs were British "gifts", stating they were largely funded by Indian taxpayers for colonial interests.CULTURAL LOOT UNDER COLONIAL RULEThe textbook includes a new section on how colonial powers looted India's cultural wealth — statues, manuscripts, jewels, and artefacts — much of which ended up in European museums and private collections. It labels this appropriation as 'massive theft' carried out across colonised nations.While the textbook brings in important perspectives on colonial exploitation and cultural theft, its omission of major resistance figures like Tipu Sultan has sparked concern over whether it presents a holistic view of India's colonial past. Critics argue that skipping such chapters of history could dilute students' understanding of India's diverse anti-colonial struggle.- EndsMust Watch
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Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
How Trump got the upper hand over the EU on tariffs
Soon after he sat down to negotiate Sunday with European officials on a potential tariff agreement at his Scotland golf club, President Trump said he wanted assurances that Europe would follow through on its pledges to increase investment in the U.S. Trump questioned how the U.S. could be sure European companies wouldn't shrug off their plans, which came with a 15% levy on EU imports into the U.S. rather than the 30% Trump had threatened, according to people familiar with the matter. After EU leaders assured him that the investment plans they were talking about were real, Trump responded: 'prove it," according to one of the people. EU officials rattled off the names of European companies they said were already prepared to invest. With a trade deal in place, planned investments of almost $200 billion would grow by even more, they told Trump. At the end of the talks, Trump said the EU would now be investing $600 billion in the U.S. as part of the deal, which also included a plan to buy $750 billion of American energy products from the U.S. over three years. European officials said the $600 billion figure is based on private companies' investment plans. The agreement, widely seen as a victory for Trump, marked the culmination of monthslong talks between America and its largest trading partner and offered the biggest signal yet that nations see America's tariff regime as more permanent than temporary. The pact followed a shift in thinking by the Europeans: EU officials in recent talks sought to contain the damage the duties will inflict on the bloc's companies and economy, rather than try to negotiate the tariffs away outright. Tariffs of 15% are 'certainly a challenge for some," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. 'But we should not forget it keeps [the EU's] access to the American market." Just before Trump and von der Leyen met Sunday to iron out the agreement, Trump aides called European officials to solidify that part of the talks would focus on the EU giving U.S. companies better access to the bloc's markets, according to a person familiar with the matter. The EU's decision to accept Trump's 15% level for tariffs marked a contrast to its initial, more adversarial approach. After Trump imposed in March 25% levies for steel and aluminum, the bloc started preparing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, including American products such as peanut butter and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Some of the products were chosen to try to maximize political pain for Trump, an EU official said when the bloc's list was announced that month. After the U.K. in May got a deal that pegged tariffs to 10%, Trump's global baseline for duties, some European officials were dismissive. 'If the U.K.-U.S. deal is what Europe gets, then the U.S. can expect countermeasures from our side," Benjamin Dousa, Sweden's minister for international development cooperation and foreign trade, said at the time. But European officials eventually came to view 10% as a minimum level. They noticed Trump administration officials talking about the revenue the tariffs were pulling in. 'It was more and more clear that President Trump is dead serious about significantly transforming the landscape of global trade," EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič told The Wall Street Journal on Monday, adding, 'the status quo of going back to last year, or before April 2, simply is not possible." As the EU tried to adapt, it relied heavily on Šefčovič to lead political discussions with U.S. officials. Since February, he has traveled to Washington seven times to meet with U.S. trade officials and had more than 100 hours of contact with them over recent months, including frequent phone and video calls. 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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Delhi Police faces a new reality on licences
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If the police have some control over these places, it would be in the interest of law and order,' he said. Evolution, through the years Senior Delhi Police officers said licensing has been a key part of policing in Delhi since the 1860s. In 1867, the British introduced the Serais Act, which gave powers to district magistrates to register and inspect all new and old 'Sarais' (inns or establishments) in the city and ensure maintenance by their proprietors and owners. A copy of the act, accessed by HT, states that keepers of Sarais, housing persons and cattle, must inform the police in case of death, infection or contagion at the establishment. A retired police officer who once served as the Licensing Branch's head, told HT: 'We don't have many records from the 1860s, as it was the time when police started lodging FIRs. There was no licensing office or branch. Only a few police constables would help DM and civic authorities inspect lodges.' A major overhaul in the Licensing Branch was made post-Independence, in the 1950s, with the passage of the Arms Act, 1959, and the Cinematograph Act, 1952. Both these acts necessitated the police to oversee trade practices related to arms, ammunition and films. In 1966-67, the Khosla Commission report (set up to oversee problems of policemen) helped reorganise Delhi Police, and eventually led to the passage of the Delhi Police Act in 1978. It brought certain powers, which were earlier with the DM, under the remit of the commissioner of police. Chapter 4 of the Delhi Police Act mentioned 'power to make regulations for regulating traffic and for preservation of order in public places…' as a provision for the Delhi Police, with regards to 'licensing or controlling places of public amusement or public entertainment'. After 1978, the Delhi Police was 'actively' called to inspect lodges, hotels, inns and other trade establishments. 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Stringent processing According to Delhi Police data accessed by HT, the Licensing Branch has the highest rejection rate for trade licences among other departments (MCD, DFS, DPCC…). Since 2019, the police received over 52,000 applications from restaurants, hotels and other establishments, but rejected 36,900 of them, reflecting a rejection rate of over 70%. Police said most of the applicants reapplied within three months and were able to secure approvals by fixing deficiencies, such as fixing ventilation, windows, exit spaces, fire equipment, lighting, and electrical issues. In contrast, the Delhi Fire Services had a rejection rate of 11.5% in the same period, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee had a rejection rate of 35.3% and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi 50%. A senior police officer currently deployed with the Licensing Branch said, 'We rejected applications only after inspections. Police inspections are mandatory to see if the establishment has been involved in illegal activities. We check if the establishment is housing criminal/anti-social elements, providing illegal alcohol, facilitating drug activities, or has incorrect rental or property documents. These metrics are also important as during the Independence and Republic Day (security preparations).' Police said the upcoming Independence Day would be the first time in 50 years that the Delhi Police did not have registers of all licensed and offending trade establishments in the city. In the 2005-10 period, police said the Licensing Branch was also overseeing CCTV installation at all establishments, especially the ones operating at night. 'This ensured women's safety and the safety of staff and others. We also check health and liquor licences since they are important for any hotel or eatery. 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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Best of BS Opinion: How India is applying new fixes to old wounds
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