Indian rulers in, Mughals out of Std 7 textbooks

Time of India

28-04-2025

Representative image (AI-generated)
NEW DELHI: All references to Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate have been removed from Class VII NCERT social science textbook. NCERT officials indicated that the released book - '
Exploring Society: India and Beyond
' - only represents the first part of the revised syllabus, with the second part expected in the coming months. However, they refrained from commenting on whether the omitted content would be part of the yet-to-be-released second part.
In the English textbook 'Poorvi', out of 15 stories, poems and narratives, 9 are by Indian writers or feature Indian themes, with contributions from figures like Rabindranath Tagore, APJ Abdul Kalam and Ruskin Bond.
Revisions aim at including Indian traditions into school curriculum
This marks a shift from the previous textbook 'Honeycomb', which had only four Indian writers among its 17 authors.
The new books, which were released this week, introduce a variety of changes, including addition of chapters on Indian dynasties, "sacred geography", govt initiatives and other cultural aspects, aligning with the vision outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023.
These revisions aim at incorporating Indian traditions, philosophies and local knowledge systems into the school curriculum.
The move follows earlier efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic to streamline the syllabus, where sections on Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate, including detailed accounts of dynasties like those of Tughlaq, Khalji, Mamluk, and Lodi, were trimmed. In the most recent update, all references to these historical periods have been completely removed from the social science textbook.
Instead, the revised social science textbook 'Exploring Society: India and Beyond' introduces fresh chapters on ancient Indian dynasties such as the Magadha, Maurya, Shunga, and Satavahanas, with a strong emphasis on "Indian ethos". One notable addition is a chapter titled 'How the Land Becomes Sacred', which explores the significance of sacred places across India and the world, touching on major pilgrimage sites associated with various religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
The chapter delves into concepts like "sacred geography", describing networks of revered locations such as the 12 jyotirlingas, the Char Dham Yatra, and the shakti pithas, as well as sacred mountains, rivers, and forests. A quote from Jawaharlal Nehru about India being a land of pilgrimages further underscores this theme.
The revised curriculum also discusses the 'varna-jati' system, noting its role in providing societal stability initially, but highlighting how it became rigid over time, particularly under British colonial rule, leading to inequalities.
In addition, the Maha Kumbh Mela, which attracted around 660 million people in Prayagraj this year, is mentioned, though the tragic stampede that resulted in the loss of 30 lives is not referenced. The book also introduces content related to modern-day India, including references to govt initiatives like 'Make in India', 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' and the Atal Tunnel.
A chapter on the Constitution emphasises the importance of national flag, recounting a landmark moment in 2004 when a citizen challenged the restriction on flying the national flag at home. SC's ruling affirmed that flying the tricolour is part of Fundamental Right to Freedom of Expression.