The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has once again found itself at the center of a national debate following significant revisions to its Class 8 social science textbooks. As part of the curriculum changes under the new National Education Policy (NEP), several key historical figures, including Tipu Sultan, Razia Sultan, and Nur Jahan, have been removed. This move has been met with a wave of criticism from historians and academics who allege that NCERT is playing into a specific ideological narrative, creating a one-sided portrayal of Indian history that casts Mughals and other Muslim rulers in a negative light.
The Erasure of Key Historical Figures
The revised textbooks for the 2025-26 academic year have notably omitted several historical figures who were once central to the curriculum. Students will no longer learn about:
- Tipu Sultan: The 18th-century ruler of Mysore, known as the “Tiger of Mysore” for his fierce resistance against the British East India Company. His father, Haider Ali, has also been removed.
- Razia Sultan: The first and only woman Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate, a figure celebrated for her administrative and military prowess in an era when female leadership was rare.
- Nur Jahan: The powerful and influential empress of the Mughal court, whose administrative skills and political acumen were crucial during Emperor Jahangir’s reign.
For critics, these are not random omissions. They are seen as part of a larger, deliberate pattern to erase or minimize the contributions of Muslim rulers and their role in shaping India’s diverse and complex history.
The New Narrative: A One-Sided History?
While the new curriculum does not completely remove the Mughal era, its portrayal has been fundamentally altered. According to reports, the textbooks now focus more on the “brutality” and “ruthlessness” of emperors like Babur and Akbar, highlighting events such as massacres and the destruction of temples. At the same time, the textbooks reportedly feature expanded sections on Maratha rulers and other figures who resisted Mughal expansion, portraying them in a largely heroic light.
Historians and education experts argue that this approach is a form of ideological revisionism. They contend that it risks creating a one-dimensional view of history where Mughal and other Muslim rulers are depicted as “devils” or “negative figures,” while simultaneously downplaying their administrative achievements, cultural contributions, and the secular aspects of their rule.
The Broader Debate on Education and Identity
NCERT and the government have defended these changes, stating that they are meant to reduce the curriculum’s burden on students and provide a “broad survey” of Indian civilization. However, critics counter that this “rationalization” is a cover for a politically motivated effort to align the educational curriculum with a specific religious and political ideology.
The controversy highlights a critical debate over the purpose of history education. Should it present a nuanced, multi-faceted account of the past, including both the good and the bad of all rulers, or should it selectively glorify certain periods while sidelining others? Many believe that the selective removal of key figures and the one-sided portrayal of others will ultimately lead to a less comprehensive understanding of India’s rich and diverse heritage, potentially sowing the seeds of discord rather than fostering a unified national identity.