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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
New NCERT class 8 textbook features stories of real-life Indian heroes
New Delhi: From India's first Param Vir Chakra awardee to the country's first female particle physicist, the recently revamped National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) Class 8 English textbook now features stories of individuals who have made an impact on society. The new book titled Poorvi includes tales of Major Somnath Sharma, India's first Param Vir Chakra awardee; Verghese Kurien, the 'Father of the White Revolution'; and Bibha Chowdhuri, India's first female particle physicist and a trailblazer for women in science, among many others. The new textbook, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023, has five thematic units that comprise stories, poems, conversations, and narrative and descriptive pieces aimed at inspiring children with themes of courage, kindness, critical thinking, service, curiosity, and perseverance. Written by Kirti Kapur, professor of English and member-coordinator in the department of education in languages of NCERT, New Delhi, the initial section that introduces the book reads, 'Themes, such as wit and wisdom, values and dispositions, mystery and magic, environment, and science and curiosity have been included. Cross-cutting themes, such as Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), values, heritage, gender sensitivity, and inclusion have been integrated into all the units.' Also Read: Counterfeit NCERT books deluge markets, officials caught off guard The first unit — Wit and Wisdom — introduces the kingdom of Krishnadeva Raya and the legendary courtier Tenali Rama, known for his wit and problem-solving skills, while the second unit — Values and Dispositions — features chapters like A Tale of Valour: Major Somnath Sharma and The Battle of Badgam, aiming to teach students the values of courage, duty, and patriotism, and Verghese Kurien – I Too Had a Dream, which aims to reinforce the value of serving one's community with honesty and perseverance. The third unit — Mystery and Magic — highlights the power of intelligence, creativity, and nature's wonders through different poems and narrative stories, while the fourth unit — Environment — features poems by Indian authors Ruskin Bond, Sarojini Naidu, and Kamakshi Balasubramanian. Under unit five — Science and Curiosity — students will read chapters like Bibha Chowdhuri: The Beam of Light that Lit the Path for Women in Indian Science, which 'highlights renowned scientists and their contributions, promoting discussions on scientific advancements.' Also Read: Delhi: ₹2.4cr fake NCERT books seized, 2 held NCERT has been developing new textbooks aligned with NEP 2020 and NCFSE 2023. It introduced new books for Classes 1 and 2 in 2023, and for Classes 3 and 6 in 2024. It is releasing new textbooks for Classes 4, 5, 7, and 8 this year.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Indian rulers in, Mughals out of Std 7 textbooks
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.
