The NCERT has allegedly omitted all mentions of the Mughals and Delhi Sultanate from its Class 7 schoolbooks in its most recent revision and included a chapter on dynasties that have ‘Indian ethos’, mentions of the Maha Kumbh and flagship union government programs.
The reforms are said to align with the new National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023, which stress integrating Indian traditions, philosophies, knowledge systems, and local context into school education.
Although in-depth descriptions of dynasties such as Tughlaqs, Khaljis, Mamluks, and Lodis and a two-page table showing achievements of Mughal emperors were ‘cut short’ in its ‘syllabus rationalisation’ process amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it is the first time when all material dealing with Mughals and Delhi Sultanate have been cut entirely, PTI news agency added.
On Sites of Pilgrimage
The Social Science textbook “Exploring Society: India and Beyond” has new chapters on early Indian dynasties such as the Magadha, Mauryas, Shungas, and Sātavāhanas with emphasis placed on “Indian ethos.”
One new chapter regarding sacred and pilgrim sites around India and elsewhere for religions such as Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism has been titled “How the Land Becomes Sacred.”
This chapter mentions locations with 12 jyotirlingas, the Char Dham yatra, and the “Shakti pithas” with sacred river confluences, mountains, and forests have been described as a “sacred geography,” as per the PTI report.
A quote from India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, which had described the nation as a land of pilgrimages also finds a mention.
NCERT On Jati, Maha kumbh
The new text affirms that “varna-jati system” initially brought social stability but rigidified, especially under the British, to create inequalities.
There is a reference to the Maha Kumbh which mentions how 660 million took part in it but no reference to the calamitous stampede where 30 pilgrims lost their lives and many others got injured.
The new book’s India’s Constitution chapter states that at one point, individuals were prohibited from flying the national flag at their residences.
“This changed in 2004 when a citizen felt it was his right to express pride in his country and challenged the rule in court. The Supreme Court agreed, saying that flying the flag is part of the Fundamental Right to Freedom of Expression. We can now fly the tricolour with pride, keeping in mind that it should never be dishonoured,” the chapter read.
NCERT officials informed PTI that these were preliminary part of the book and second part is due to come in coming months. They also did not comment when asked if the dropped portions would be included in the second part.
Syllabus rationalization by the NCERT in its textbooks has found opposition from opposition parties which characterized the overhaul as “saffronisation” to accommodate the ruling party’s “agenda”.
NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani had in an interview to PTI last year asserted, “teaching about riots can make young children negative citizens.” The NCERT had deleted sections referring to the Gujarat communal pogrom of 2002.
