New Delhi [India], July 16: The new NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook, set to roll out in schools from the 2025–26 academic year, presents a revised and more direct interpretation of Mughal-era history, describing emperors like Akbar and Aurangzeb with a blend of praise, critique, and nuance.
The updated chapter titled ‘Reshaping India’s Political Map’ covers a wide span of history from the 13th to 17th centuries, featuring the Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara Empire, the Mughal dynasty, resistance movements, and the rise of the Sikhs.
Akbar: A “Blend of Brutality and Tolerance”
The textbook offers a complex portrait of Akbar, calling his reign a mixture of “brutality and tolerance.” It recounts his violent siege of Chittorgarh in 1568, citing his own victory dispatch that speaks of massacres and temple destructions, while also highlighting his progressive policies like:
- Abolition of the jizya tax
- Promotion of sulh-i-kul (universal peace)
- Inclusion of Rajput nobles
- Establishment of a translation bureau at Fatehpur Sikri for key Hindu texts into Persian
- A quote from Abul Fazl depicts Akbar’s spiritual evolution, wherein he confesses shame for earlier religious coercion.
Aurangzeb: Expansion and Orthodoxy
Aurangzeb is portrayed as a military strategist who oversaw the empire’s largest territorial spread, but whose rule was marked by:
- Religious orthodoxy
- Bans on music and dance at court
- Reimposition of the jizya and pilgrimage taxes
- Destruction of temples in Banaras, Mathura, and Somnath
- Persecution of Jain, Sikh, Sufi, and Parsi communities
His brutal rise to power is not omitted, with detailed accounts of the execution of rivals and the imprisonment of Shah Jahan, his father.
Balanced Historical Tone
The NCERT has defended the inclusion of these stark details, asserting the importance of learning from the past rather than sanitising it:
“Understanding the historical origin of cruel violence, abusive misrule, or misplaced ambitions of power is the best way to heal the past and build a future where, hopefully, they will have no place.”
The textbook also includes a preface that acknowledges the violent and disturbing episodes of history, stating:
“History sometimes seems to be full of wars and destruction… Should we omit them entirely?… The best approach is to face them and analyse them.”
Early Mughal Legacy and Resistance
The book begins with Babur, calling him a “Turkic Mongol ruler and military strategist” who introduced gunpowder warfare and ended the Delhi Sultanate in 1526. It follows the brief rule of Humayun, his loss to Sher Shah Suri, and the rise of Hemu, a Hindu general under the Suris, who briefly ruled as Hemchandra Vikramaditya before being captured and executed by Akbar’s forces.
Jahangir and Shah Jahan
The contributions of Jahangir and Shah Jahan are acknowledged, particularly in terms of art and architecture, including Shah Jahan’s commissioning of the Taj Mahal. However, the textbook doesn’t shy away from highlighting the bloody succession battles that followed Shah Jahan’s illness.
A New Historical Approach
This revised portrayal marks a shift from earlier NCERT textbooks, which often focused more on cultural achievements and less on acts of brutality. The more candid tone signals an effort to teach students history with context and clarity, while avoiding blame or communal overtones.