Govt cites curricular objectives for excluding Razia, Tipu from books

The Centre on Wednesday defended the exclusion of sections on the Anglo-Mysore wars and personalities like Razia Sultan and Nur Jahan.

In a written response to TMC MP Ritabrata Banerjee, the Minister of State in the Education Ministry Jayant Chaudhary said the approach adopted for the middle stage (Grades 6 to 8) books is to provide only a broad survey of Indian civilisation from prehistoric times all the way to Independence.

“This new textbook is an integrated social science resource, comprising four themes — India and the World: Land and the People; Tapestry of the Past; Governance and Democracy; and Economic Life Around Us. Personalities featured in these themes have been included contextually and in accordance with curricular objectives. The textbook introduces new pedagogical approaches, emphasises refined classroom practices and presents a focused syllabus,” he said.

Under the theme “Tapestry of the Past”, the minister said the section mentions influential women like Rani Durgavati, Ahilyabai Holkar, Rani Abbakka I and Begum Hazrat Mahal.

Chaudhary said the textbooks encourage students to explore more through experiential learning, undertaking field work and focus on evidence-based understanding.

“Education being a subject in the concurrent list of the Constitution and the majority of schools being under the jurisdiction of the state governments, the respective state government may adopt or adapt NCERT textbooks or develop their own textbooks based on the National Curriculum Framework. The states have flexibility to provide more coverage about regional personalities and events in their textbooks,” Chaudhary said.

The new textbook skips the mention of Tipu Sultan, Haidar Ali or the Anglo-Mysore wars of 1700s in its chapter on India’s colonial era. In the previous Class 8 social science textbook, a section on the expansion of the East India Company’s rule had a reference to Tipu Sultan and Haider Ali and four Anglo-Mysore wars.

In Class 7 textbook “Out Past II”, a chapter on Delhi Sultanate mentioned Razia Sultan. However, a similar section on Delhi Sultanate in Class 8 book omits her reference.

Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh has now been included in Chapter 4 — “The Colonial Era in India” — of the new Class 8 social science textbook. A paragraph from the chapter in the book read as, “(…also (Begum Hazrat Mahal) resisted the British-led resistance after her kingdom was annexed and joined the rebels during the 1857 uprising, leading the defence of Lucknow when the British attempted to recapture the city”.