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India Today
17-07-2025
- General
- India Today
‘Traitor' tag for Mir Jafar, Tipu Sultan missing: Controversy erupts over NCERT changes
In the section on the Battle of Plassey of 1757, Mir Jafar, the army general of the Nawab of Bengal, was labelled 'a traitor' in the newly released Class 8 social science textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond – Part Battle of Plassey was fought between the Nawab of Bengal and the East India company officials led by Robert Clive, a British official enumerates how the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-Ud-Daulah, lost to the Company because of Mir Jafar's betrayal. In the section, 'Enter the British' the text reads: 'Clive hatched a conspiracy with Mir Jafar, the Nawab's Military commander, promising to install him as the new Nawab in exchange for his betrayal. The battle took place at Palashi (Plassey as the British Spelt it) some 150 kilometres north of present say Kolkatta. Some French forces assisted the Nawab, but Mir Jafar's forces — constituting the majority of the Nawab's army — stood aside, ensuring a British victory despite their smaller number. Even today, 'Mir Jafar' in India remains a synonym for 'traitor.'!'advertisementThe narrative was vastly different in the earlier version of the book titled 'Our Pasts- III'. In the earlier version the text only mentions under the Battle of Plassey: 'One of the main reasons for the defeat of the Nawab was that the forces led by Mir Jafar, one of Sirajuddaulah's commanders, never fought the battle. Clive had managed to secure his support by promising to make him nawab after crushing Sirajuddaulah.' In the same section under 'The strategy of divide and rule' mentions that 'under the divide and rule policy, the British were equally skilled at exploiting existing divisions within the Indian society, they identified and often encouraged tensions between religious communities.'Although both textbooks continue to teach about the Battle of Plassey, the old textbook explains how trade led to battles through conflicts between the East India Company and the Nawabs after the death of Aurangazeb. The role of nawabs and their resistance has also been reduced as teachings in the new OF RULERS OF MYSORE - TIPU SULTAN AND HAIDER ALIAfter the changes in the history of Mughal rule in India, there is the complete omission of Tipu Sultan, son of Haider Ali, rulers of Mysore and the four Anglo–Mysore Wars—sections that were prominently featured in the previous earlier NCERT social science textbook 'Our Pasts- III , a section explained how the expansion of the East India Company's rule from 1757 to 1857 faced tough resistance from the rulers of Mysore — under Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan, 'the Tiger of Mysore'. Tipu Sultan was portrayed as a significant figure of resistance against British colonial expansion in South India. His administrative reforms, and strategic alliances with the French were all integral parts of the narrative on colonial these elements are now conspicuously absent in the new edition, raising concerns about regional representation. While the new textbook retains coverage of other anti-colonial movements such as the Santhal and Kol rebellions and the Anglo–Maratha EXCERPT FROM THE OLD SOCIAL SCIENCE TEXTBOOKThe "Tiger of Mysore"The Company resorted to direct military confrontation when it saw a threat to its political or economic interests. This can be illustrated with the case of the southern Indian state of Mysore. Mysore had grown in strength under the leadership of powerful rulers like Haidar Ali (ruled from 1761 to 1782) and his famous son Tipu Sultan (ruled from 1782 to 1799). Mysore controlled the profitable trade of the Malabar coast where the Company purchased pepper and cardamom. advertisementIn 1785 Tipu Sultan stopped the export of sandalwood, pepper and cardamom through the ports of his kingdom, and disallowed local merchants from trading with the Company. He also established a close relationship with the French in India, and modernised his army with their help. The British were furious. They saw Haidar and Tipu as ambitious, arrogant and dangerous - rulers who had to be controlled and crushed. Four wars were fought with Mysore (1767-69, 1780-84, 1790-92 and 1799).Only in the last - the Battle of Seringapatam - did the Company ultimately win a victory. Tipu Sultan was killed defending his capital Seringapatam, Mysore was placed under the former ruling dynasty of the Wodeyars and a subsidiary alliance was imposed on the excerpt on Tipu Sultan reads:Kings are often surrounded by legend and their powers glorified through is a legend about Tipu Sultan who became the ruler of Mysore in 1782. It is said that once he went hunting in the forest with a French friend. There he came face to face with a tiger. His gun did not work and his dagger fell to the ground. He battled with the tiger unarmed until he managed to reach down and pick up the he was able to kill the tiger in the battle. After this he came to be known as the "Tiger of Mysore" had the image of the tiger on his educationists and students await Part 2, the debate over representation, regional history, and historical accuracy continues to intensify. NCERT officials have clarified that Part 2 of the textbook, which is yet to be released, may include some of the omitted material. However, no official confirmation or release date has been provided.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Cheap politics': Congress slams BJP for calling Rahul Gandhi 'New age Mir Jafar'
New Delhi: A fresh political controversy erupted after BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya called Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi a "new age Mir Jafar ", in response to his recent criticism of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar , drawing sharp condemnation from senior Congress leaders, who accused the BJP of indulging in "cheap politics." The spat began after Gandhi questioned Jaishankar's silence over the number of Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft lost during Operation Sindoor . Reacting to this, Malviya, in a post on X, called the Congress leader a "new age Mir Jafar", a historical reference to the betrayal by the Bengal nobleman in the late 18th century, that laid the foundation for British colonial rule. — amitmalviya (@amitmalviya) Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Stourport-on-severn: Repossessed Motorhomes Can Save You Big! (Look) Topicsift Learn More Speaking to IANS, Congress leader Tariq Anwar condemned the BJP's repeated attempts to silence dissenting voices. "This is nothing new. They always resort to sarcasm and slander when the Opposition raises questions," Anwar said. Live Events "Since coming to power in 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi , the BJP has had a mindset that no one should question them. When someone does, they brand them 'anti-national.' Intellectuals who question the government are slapped with charges, even treason, and sometimes jailed. Yet when BJP leaders make derogatory remarks against the Army or national institutions, no action is taken." Another Congress MP, Akhilesh Prasad Singh, said the BJP's comments were deeply disrespectful and historically ignorant. "The Congress party played a leading role in India's freedom struggle," he said. "Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and his family has made the ultimate sacrifice for the country. From Motilal Nehru to Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, their contributions are etched in history. On the other hand, what role did the BJP and RSS play during the freedom movement? Everyone knows. This kind of language is not only inaccurate, but it also reflects poorly on political discourse. It is cheap politics, and completely unacceptable," he told IANS. Meanwhile, the political row intensified after Malviya shared a provocative cartoon on social media, depicting Rahul Gandhi standing on Pakistan's shoulders, questioning the Indian Air Force about its fighter jet losses. The caption suggested Pakistan was encouraging Gandhi, and he wasd echoing enemy narratives. The post sparked outrage within Congress ranks, with many accusing the BJP of branding political opponents as traitors for asking legitimate questions.
News18
20-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Mir Jafar, The Traitor: Why India's Operation To Hunt Down Spies Is Codenamed After Him
Last Updated: The anti-espionage operation was named after Mir Jafar, a historical figure widely remembered as one of the greatest traitors in Indian history In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent airstrikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, security forces have now launched Operation Mir Jafar, targeting individuals suspected of spying for Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI. The operation aims to identify and neutralise those who allegedly provided critical information to Pakistan during India's military response. The anti-espionage operation was named after Mir Jafar, a historical figure widely remembered as one of the greatest traitors in Indian history. His name has long symbolised betrayal, even though the context in which it is used often varies. Historians generally agree that Mir Jafar betrayed the Nawab of Bengal during the Battle of Plassey. In modern times, his name is more commonly used as a metaphor for political treachery than as a direct reference to the historical event. In 1756, when the 23-year-old Siraj-ud-Daulah ascended to power, his military commander and relative, Mir Jafar, began to feel increasingly marginalised. Though he had supported Siraj's assault on the East India Company's Fort William just months before the Battle of Plassey, simmering resentment lingered. Ambitious and discontented, Mir Jafar aspired to become Nawab himself. His betrayal was seen as particularly grave due to his familial ties with Siraj-ud-Daulah. Unlike other conspirators, Mir Jafar was shielded by the East India Company, intensifying perceptions of his treachery. British agents uncovered that Mir Jafar, the Nawab's military commander, harboured ambitions of seizing power. Clive capitalised on this, forging a secret pact with Mir Jafar and promising him the throne in exchange for his betrayal. As British forces neared Murshidabad, Siraj-ud-Daulah readied for defence but faced wavering loyalty and political setbacks. At Plassey, his position worsened with the death of his trusted general, Mir Madan. Isolated and desperate, he turned to Mir Jafar—unaware of the treachery already unfolding. Feigning loyalty, Mir Jafar advised Siraj to halt the fighting. The Nawab agreed and withdrew to his camp. On Mir Jafar's signal, the British launched a swift and decisive attack. Deprived of leadership and direction, the Nawab's army collapsed. Siraj fled but was soon captured and executed by Mir Jafar's son, Miran. True to their word, the British installed Mir Jafar as the puppet ruler of Bengal. Under Mir Jafar's rule, Bengal—once the wealthiest province in India—suffered rampant exploitation and looting. The region's riches were drained, laying the groundwork for centuries of colonial extraction. Mir Jafar's alliance with the British ultimately proved his undoing; once he had served their purpose, they discarded him. His name endures as a lasting symbol of treachery in Indian history. Why Was Operation Mir Jafar Launched? According to the investigators, numerous photographs and sensitive data were shared through various channels with the ISI. The probe also uncovered the involvement of the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi, where some Indian nationals were reportedly in contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives stationed there. Further investigations revealed that Pakistan obtained sensitive information by sending individuals on foreign trips and offering monetary and other incentives. Electronic surveillance showed that significant data was transmitted to Pakistan through Indian mobile phones and other digital channels. Officials involved in the operation shared that individuals from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and several other regions were found to be involved in these activities. Under Operation Mir Jafar, security agencies are actively gathering evidence, and based on initial findings, intelligence units are working to identify and prosecute those involved. According to several officials, intelligence agencies have started to closely monitor individuals suspected of leaking information to Pakistan, resulting in the arrest of at least 12 people across three states on espionage charges. The arrests include four in Haryana, six in Punjab, and one in Uttar Pradesh. Among those detained is Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber with thousands of followers, apprehended by the Haryana Police in Hisar. The 33-year-old travel vlogger, who runs the YouTube channel 'Travel with JO', is under investigation for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistan. Investigators discovered that Malhotra was allegedly honey-trapped by Danish, an employee of the Pakistani High Commission, believed to have ties to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). top videos View all Other notable arrests include Devendra Singh, a 25-year-old postgraduate student from Mastgarh Cheeka village in Haryana; Nauman Ilahi, a 24-year-old security guard from Uttar Pradesh working in Haryana; Arman, 23; Shahzad, a businessman from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh; and Mohammad Murtaza Ali, who was arrested in Jalandhar. An official familiar with the investigation stated that interrogations are currently underway and more arrests are expected as the probe progresses and additional evidence emerges. First Published: May 20, 2025, 15:43 IST
