नवीनतम
NCERT Class 8 social science textbook flags ‘brutality’ of Mughals
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has revised its Class 8 Social Science textbook to include content highlighting the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal era, reportedly pointing to "many instances of religious intolerance" during these periods.
The new textbook describes Babur as a “brutal and ruthless conqueror, slaughtering entire populations of cities,” while portraying Akbar’s reign as “a blend of brutality and tolerance.” Aurangzeb, it notes, ordered the destruction of temples and gurdwaras, The Indian Express reported.
To frame the context, the NCERT has included a “Note on Some Darker Periods in History,” and one of the chapters in the book includes a cautionary note that “no one should be held responsible today for events of the past”.
“Understanding the historical origin of cruel violence, abusive misrule or misplaced ambitions of power is the best way to heal the past and build a future where, hopefully, they will have no place,” TIE quoted the note as saying.
Michel Danino, the head of NCERT’s Curricular Area Group for Social Science, defended the revisions, stating that understanding Mughal rulers requires acknowledging the complexities of their personalities. “Akbar himself admits he was brutal in his younger days. We are not demonising Akbar or Aurangzeb, but we have to show these rulers had their limitations and committed cruel deeds,” The Hindu quoted Danino as saying.
Earlier NCERT textbooks did not go into such detail regarding Babur, Akbar, or Aurangzeb, according to reports. In previous editions, content on the Mughal period was part of the Class 7 history textbook.
The changes come as part of a broader curriculum revamp under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the new National Curriculum Framework.
