NCERT Enhances Coverage of Ghaznavid Invasions in Class 7 Textbook

Expanded Historical Context in Education

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has significantly increased the content regarding the "Ghaznavid invasions" in the newly released Class 7 social science textbook, as reported by a leading news outlet on Sunday.

As an advisory body to the Union government on educational curricula, the NCERT has introduced a more comprehensive narrative about Mahmud of Ghazni, detailing his campaigns of destruction and his intent to propagate his interpretation of Islam in non-Muslim territories.

Unlike the previous edition, which offered only a brief mention of Ghazni, the updated textbook dedicates six pages to the Ghaznavid invasions, complete with illustrations and explanatory notes.

The text highlights that Ghazni's biographers portray him as someone who was not only intent on slaughtering or enslaving 'infidels'—referring to Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains—but also on eliminating rival Islamic sects.

Additionally, it notes his raids on temples in Mathura and Somnath.

According to the textbook, "Mahmud’s campaigns were marked by widespread destruction and plunder, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of Indian civilians and the capture of many, including children, who were sold into slavery in Central Asia."

In response to inquiries about these revisions, NCERT Director Dinesh Saklani stated that the content is clear and self-explanatory.

The textbook mentions that the current Somnath temple was reconstructed in 1950 and inaugurated by former President Rajendra Prasad. It encourages students to reflect on the reasons behind the public funding for this reconstruction.

Preceding the expanded section is a cautionary note that discusses how historical narratives often emphasize war and destruction, while periods of peace and effective governance are frequently overlooked.

It states, "Our perspective is that confronting and analyzing these events can help us understand their causes and potentially prevent similar occurrences in the future." Furthermore, it emphasizes that while historical events cannot be erased, it is unjust to hold contemporary individuals accountable for them.

The chapter, titled "Turning Tides: 11th and 12th centuries," also addresses other Turkic invasions, including those led by Muhammad Ghuri, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, and Bakhtiyar Khilji.

It details Khilji’s destruction of significant Buddhist institutions like Nalanda and Vikramashila, noting that historians agree this devastation contributed to the decline of Buddhism in India, although other factors may have played a role as well.