📜 #HistoryRewritten #IndianEducation #MughalHistory #TextbookControversy #NCERTChanges #SaveHistory #IndianHeritage
The Big Change: Mughals Out, Who’s In?
The Times of India recently reported that Mughal emperors like Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan have been removed from Class 7 history textbooks in India. This decision by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has sparked debates among historians, educators, and politicians.
What’s Gone?
🚫 Deleted Topics:
- Detailed chapters on Mughal administration, art, and architecture
- Key rulers like Babur, Humayun, Akbar, and Aurangzeb (reduced to brief mentions)
- Cultural syncretism (e.g., Akbar’s Din-i-Ilahi, Sufi-Bhakti movements)
What’s Added?
✅ New Focus Areas:
- Ancient Indian empires (Mauryas, Guptas, Cholas)
- Regional kingdoms (Marathas, Ahoms, Vijayanagara)
- Freedom struggle (1857 Revolt, Gandhian era)
⚡ Why the Change?
NCERT claims this is part of a “rationalization” process to:
- Reduce syllabus load post-COVID.
- Balance historical narratives (more focus on indigenous rulers).
- Avoid “overlapping” topics across classes.
Critics Say:
- “Whitewashing history”: Mughals ruled for 300+ years—can’t be ignored.
- Political agenda?: Some see this as downplaying Islamic influence on India.
- Loss of cultural context: Taj Mahal, Red Fort, and Urdu poetry stem from Mughal era.
📚 What Do Historians Think?
- Prof. Irfan Habib (Aligarh Muslim University):
“You can’t teach medieval India without Mughals. It’s like teaching Rome without Caesar.” - Dr. Ruchika Sharma (JNU):
“Focus on regional kings is good, but erasure isn’t the solution.”
👨🎓 Student & Parent Reactions
- Confusion: How will kids understand monuments like Fatehpur Sikri or Jama Masjid?
- Mixed feelings: Some welcome less “foreign rule” focus; others fear biased learning.
🌍 Global Parallels
This isn’t just an India issue:
- USA: Debates over teaching slavery & colonialism.
- UK: “Empire nostalgia” vs. colonial atrocities.
- Japan: Downplaying WWII war crimes in textbooks.
💡 The Big Question: Should History Be Selective?
✔ Pros:
- Highlights neglected Indian empires.
- Reduces rote learning burden.
❌ Cons: - Risks creating gaps in historical understanding.
- May fuel communal divides.
📢 Your Opinion Matters!
- Should Mughals be taught in schools?
- Is this “syllabus rationalization” or rewriting history?
💬 Comment below!
🔗 Read the full TOI report here: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indian-rulers-in-mughals-out-of-std-7-textbooks/articleshow/120679357.cms
🚨 Share This Story!
📌 Tag educators, historians, and policymakers.
📌 Use hashtags: #TeachMughals #IndianHistoryDebate
(Sources: TOI, NCERT, historian interviews)
P.S. Want balanced history resources? Check out:
“History isn’t just about kings—it’s about truth. Let’s preserve it.”
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