What’s Inside NCERT's New Class VIII Textbook on Mughal History?
New Insights into Mughal History
New Delhi: The newly released Class VIII textbook by NCERT presents a nuanced view of Mughal emperors, describing Akbar's rule as a mix of "brutality" and "tolerance," while labeling Babur as a "ruthless conqueror" and Aurangzeb as a "military ruler" who reinstated taxes on non-Muslims.
Titled "Exploring Society: India and Beyond," this textbook is the first in the updated NCERT curriculum to cover significant historical periods, including the Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, Marathas, and colonial times.
Previously, these topics were included in Class VII, but the NCERT has now shifted them to Class VIII, aligning with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023.
The book opens with a section called "Note on Some Darker Periods in History," which provides context for discussing sensitive historical events, particularly those involving violence and conflict.
This note encourages students to approach the historical roots of violence and misrule with a dispassionate perspective, emphasizing that no one today should be held accountable for past events.
The chapter titled "Reshaping India’s Political Map" covers Indian history from the 13th to the 17th century, detailing the rise and decline of the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Mughals, and the emergence of the Sikhs.
The textbook characterizes Babur as a "brutal and ruthless conqueror" responsible for the slaughter of entire populations, while Aurangzeb is depicted as a ruler who destroyed temples and gurdwaras, highlighting numerous instances of religious intolerance.
Although Akbar's reign is noted for its "blend of brutality and tolerance" towards various faiths, the book also points out that non-Muslims were often marginalized in high administrative positions. It mentions Akbar's order for the massacre of approximately 30,000 civilians following the siege of Chittorgarh.
The text discusses "jiziya," a tax imposed on non-Muslims that served as a source of public humiliation and incentivized conversions to Islam. In previous editions, this tax was described differently.
Despite the darker themes, the textbook also celebrates resilience and resistance, featuring chapters on the Marathas, Ahoms, Rajputs, and Sikhs, highlighting leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Tarabai, and Ahilyabai Holkar as pivotal figures in cultural and political advancements.
Shivaji is portrayed as a strategic leader who upheld Hindu values while respecting other religions, with efforts noted in restoring desecrated temples.
Michel Danino, head of NCERT's Social Science Curricular Area Group, defended the textbook, asserting that it does not aim to demonize Mughal rulers.
Union Minister of State BL Verma supported this perspective, emphasizing the importance of educating future generations about Mughal history.
The textbook also includes accounts of heroic resistance against the Mughals, detailing the actions of Jat peasants and various tribal communities who fought to defend their lands.
It highlights Rani Durgavati's resistance against Akbar's forces and the efforts of Maharana Pratap and the Ahoms in northeastern India against Aurangzeb's army.