NCERT textbook revisions spark debate over historical accuracy

In a significant but controversial shift under the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 and the newly-framed National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE), 2023, the NCERT has revised the Class VII history textbooks.

- ARINDAM GANGULY, OP

Among the most debated changes is the complete removal of chapters covering the Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate—eras that have for decades formed a core part of understanding Medieval Indian history.

Among the most notable additions is a chapter highlighting India’s ‘sacred geography’ that choreographs revered religious sites such as the 12 Jyotirlingas, Shakti Peeths and Char Dham Yatra. Also there is a stronger emphasis on government programmes like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’.

While NCERT officials claim that these edits are aimed at reducing repetition and that the second volume of the textbook may provide additional context, the omission of the Mughal era from the current volume has triggered nationwide concern. Critics fear this is not a restructuring—but a re-writing of history.

Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar has defended the move, asserting that the intent was not to erase any era but to remove repetitive content from the curriculum. However, his controversial statement referring to the Mughal period as ‘the darkest part of Indian history’ has intensified scrutiny, prompting questions over whether ideological motivations are eclipsing educational integrity.

While a section of historians and archaeologists Orissa POST spoke to argue that focusing on indigenous traditions and local knowledge could offer a more inclusive perspective on India’s heritage, others caution that omitting key historical periods might distort the nation’s complex and diverse history, and deprive the new generation of knowing the actual past that shaped the present.

According to noted Mumbai-based historian and archaeologist Dr Kurush Dalal, the Mughal Empire, spanning over three centuries, is more than just another chapter in India’s past. It is a foundational pillar in understanding the country’s historical, cultural, and economic trajectory, Dalal points out.