New Delhi, July 16: The newly released Class 8 Social Science textbook by NCERT offers a starker portrayal of the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire, labeling Babur as a “brutal and ruthless conqueror” and highlighting religious intolerance during the reigns of Akbar and Aurangzeb.
Titled Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), the textbook is the first in the revised NCERT series for the current academic session. It includes a new section, A Note on Some Darker Periods in History, where the actions of rulers like Babur, Akbar, and Aurangzeb are described in harsher terms than in previous editions.
Babur is depicted as a conqueror who “slaughtered entire populations,” Akbar’s rule is called a “blend of brutality and tolerance,” and Aurangzeb is noted for temple and gurdwara demolitions.
NCERT has clarified that the intent behind these descriptions is educational, not accusatory. A disclaimer in the book emphasizes: “No one should be held responsible today for events of the past.”
The updated narrative marks a significant shift in how medieval Indian history is being presented to school students, placing greater emphasis on religious conflicts and violence.
This edition is part of NCERT’s broader curriculum revision and is expected to shape students’ understanding of India’s historical complexities from an early age.
