NCERT'S Textbook Turnaround: Indian Dynasties and Pilgrimage Paths Replace Medieval Monarchs

In an important change to the curriculum, NCERT has released new Class 7 textbooks that have eliminated all references to the Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate and added chapters on ancient Indian dynasties, "sacred geography", and the Maha Kumbh mela. The revision, announced today, is part of the NCERT curriculum revision related to the National Education Policy (NEP) and National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023, which encourage Indian traditions, philosophies, and knowledge systems to be included in education. 

 

The Social Science textbook, now entitled "Exploring Society: India and Beyond", removes and replaces chapters covering various medieval Muslim dynasties, such as the Tughlaqs, Khaljis, Mamluks, and Lodis, with chapters about ancient Indian kings centered around the Magadha and kings such as the Mauryas, Shungas, and Satavahanas. Another major addition is the chapter "How the Land Becomes Sacred", which discusses pilgrimage spots and sacred geography in several religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. The chapter discusses sacred sites including the 12 jyotirlingas, Char Dham yatra, and Shakti pithas, as well as location descriptions of sacred rivers, sacred mountains, and sacred forests.

 

Another new chapter was dedicated to the Maha Kumbh mela, which occurred in Praygraj earlier this year where an estimated 660 million people of all backgrounds attended. However, there is no mention of the terrible stampede which required emergency response measures which cost 30 people their lives.

 

Other new sections include chapters on government initiatives like Make in India, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and the Atal Tunnel, and a discussion about the progressive evolution of citizens' rights, such as when in 2004, the Supreme Court ruled that citizens could fly the national flag

 

On another note, NCERT officials stated that this release is only Part I of revisions of the textbooks and that Part II will be released at a later time. NCERT officials also did not confirm if the textbook will include anything related to the Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate histories in future revisions. 

 

Source: The Economic Times