NCERT Class 8 new Social Science textbook highlights religious intolerance, brutality under sultanate and Mughal rule

NCERT Class 8 Social Science Book Highlights Religious Intolerance in Medieval India

The newly released Class 8 Social Science textbook by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has drawn attention for its unflinching portrayal of the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal rulers, including references to episodes of religious intolerance, destruction of temples, and instances of brutality by key historical figures.

Titled "Exploring Society: India and Beyond – Part 1", the book forms part of NCERT's ongoing curriculum overhaul aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.

Marking a shift from earlier editions, the new textbook includes a dedicated note on “Some Darker Periods in History”, encouraging students to examine past events dispassionately, while stressing that "no one should be held responsible today for events of the past."

What the Textbook Says

The chapter "Reshaping India’s Political Map" covers the 13th to 17th centuries — including the rise and fall of the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Mughals, and resistance from regional powers like the Sikhs and Marathas.

Notable inclusions in the new book:

• Babur is described as a “brutal and ruthless conqueror” who ordered mass killings and built “towers of skulls.” This is in sharp contrast to previous editions, which primarily highlighted his conquests and cultural interests.
• Akbar, often remembered for his religious tolerance, is portrayed with a more nuanced lens. His reign is called a “blend of brutality and tolerance”, referencing the massacre of 30,000 civilians during the Chittorgarh siege, even as his later policies leaned toward syncretism.
• Aurangzeb’s rule is detailed as marked by both political pragmatism and religious orthodoxy. The book documents his orders to demolish temples in Banaras, Mathura, Somnath, and attacks on Jain temples and Sikh gurdwaras, while also noting instances where he granted protection to religious sites.

Delhi Sultanate and Religious Conflicts

The textbook presents the Sultanate era as one of political instability, frequent plunder, and destruction of cultural and religious sites. It details Malik Kafur’s campaigns against major Hindu centres such as Madurai, Chidambaram, and Srirangam, emphasizing both plunder and iconoclastic motives.

The imposition of the jiziya tax on non-Muslims is described not only as a financial levy but also as a tool of “public humiliation” and conversion pressure — a stark departure from earlier textbooks which treated it more matter-of-factly.

Shivaji and the Marathas Get a Fresh Spotlight

In contrast, Shivaji and the Maratha empire are presented in a positive light. The chapter calls Shivaji a “master strategist and true visionary” who upheld Hindu values while respecting other faiths. His efforts to rebuild desecrated temples are highlighted as part of a broader cultural revival.

The new Class 8 textbook is part of a larger batch of revised NCERT books being rolled out for Classes 1 to 8. In a significant departure, Class 8 will now address medieval Indian history — including the Sultanate and Mughal periods — instead of Class 7, as was the case in earlier curricula.

Previously, Class 8 had separate books for History, Civics, and Geography. The new Part 1 combines all three into a single volume, with Part 2 expected later this year.