The book, “Exploring Society: India and Beyond”, released this week, is also the first in the new NCERT curriculum to introduce students to the Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, Marathas, and the colonial era.
Forgotten Heroes Profiled
Forgotten heroes occupy a significant space in the book with figures like Rani Durgavati, Rani Abakka, and Travancore’s Marthanda Varma profiled alongside chapters exploring India’s cultural knowledge traditions and its rich skill heritage.
Note on Darker Periods in History
At the beginning of the book is a section titled “Note on Some Darker Periods in History”, where the NCERT offers context for the inclusion of sensitive and violent events, primarily war and bloodshed.
Reshaping India’s Political Map
In the new book, the chapter covering Indian history from the 13th to the 17th century – “Reshaping India’s Political Map” – spans the rise and fall of the Delhi Sultanate and the resistance to it, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Mughals and the resistance to them, and the rise of the Sikhs.
Mughal Rule and Resistance
Describing Babur as a “brutal and ruthless conqueror, slaughtering entire populations of cities” and Aurangzeb as a military ruler who destroyed temples and gurdwaras, the NCERT’s new textbook points to “many instances of religious intolerance” during the Mughal period.
Marathas and Sikh Gurus
The Marathas are depicted not only for their military might under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj but also for their maritime supremacy and governance innovations. The Sikh Gurus’ resistance to Mughal oppression is also discussed in detail.
Colonial-Era Revolts
The textbook also delves into colonial-era revolts such as the Sanyasi-Fakir rebellion, the Indigo uprising, and the Great Rebellion of 1857, “offering students a more inclusive picture of struggle beyond the familiar narratives,” said a faculty member of the textbook committee of NCERT.
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