The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has said that it will be removing several chapters from history textbooks for class 12 that dealt with the Mughal Empire. The removal of Mughal history from the curriculum drew harsh condemnation from a number of political groups.
Uttar Pradesh declared that the new class 12 history textbooks from the NCERT, which have had sections about Mughal courts deleted for this academic year, will be used in government schools.
The NCERT has removed teachings on Mughal courts from its class 12 textbooks and other sections of the syllabus citing “overlapping” and “irrelevant” grounds.
Which chapters have been being removed?
The deleted chapters are to the book “Themes of Indian History-Part II” and are titled “Kings and Chronicles; the Mughal Courts (C. 16th and 17th centuries).” It has been reported that chapters such as The Industrial Revolution, Confrontation of Cultures, and Central Islamic Lands have been eliminated from the Class 11 syllabus. Additionally, chapters like “Era of one-party dominance” and “Rise of popular movements” have been omitted from the class 12 civics textbook Politics in India since Independence.
Moreover, chapters like “Democracy and diversity,” “Popular struggles and movement,” and “Challenges to democracy” have been eliminated from the class 10 Democratic Politics-II textbooks. Additionally, the NCERT has eliminated several passages from Political Science textbooks for class 12 that discuss the government’s brief prohibition of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) following the killing of Mahatma Gandhi. Furthermore, it has been reported that phrases about Gandhi’s pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity incited Hindu radicals had been erased.
What has NCERT has said on omitting chapters?
It has been explained by NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani that Mughal chapters have not been “dropped” from CBSE books, calling the claim to be a “lie.” He noted that after reviewing the books covering standards 6 through 12, professional committees made the recommendation that some chapters be eliminated. This would not impact the children’s understanding and would relieve an unneeded load.
Saklani highlighted that the history of the Mughals is still being taught to children today in section 2 of the 11th class book and in the NCERT seventh class book. He said that no chapter had been taken out of any book this year and that they were operating in accordance with the National Education Policy 2020, which mentions lightening the amount of content.
What did the Opposition say on the attempt to change history syllabus?
Asaduddin Owaisi, the head of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), claimed that while China is deleting our present, the Center is erasing the past by removing Mughal history from the NCERT syllabus.
He was alluding to the renaming of locations in Arunachal Pradesh by China. BJP leader Kapil Mishra applauded the action and claimed that the Mughal emperors were being referred to as “thieves.” He further claimed that the movement will reveal the “truth.”
Avinash Pandey, the general secretary of Congress and the Jharkhand state coordinator, claimed that the decision to remove lessons on Mughal courts from the NCERT textbooks is an attempt to alter the history of the country. MP Kapil Sibal of the Rajya Sabha has criticized the government, stating that contemporary Indian history should begin in 2014 in accordance with PM Modi’s India.
In a tweet, Sibal said, “NCERT textbooks: Effaced: 1) Gandhi’s pursuit of Hindu Muslim unity 2) Banning of RSS 3) All references to Gujarat riots 4) Protests that turned into social movements in contemporary India.”
In conclusion, academics, historians, and the general public have all engaged in heated arguments and discussions over NCERT’s contentious decision to remove Mughal chapters from the history curriculum. NCERT has justified this move by pointing to factors including a lighter syllabus and a concentration on more modern subjects, but others contend that political prejudices and ideologies may have played a role.
The Mughal empire had a significant influence on Indian history and culture, which should be understood and acknowledged. If their chapters were removed from the curriculum, this could result in a distorted perception of the past of the nation. To comprehend and value our rich legacy, it is essential to uphold a fair and impartial approach in the educational system and make sure that our kids are taught about every facet of our history, including the Mughal era.
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