He’s right. We must be taught about non-Mughals too, although I dunno what he really means by “our kings.” Being taught about just the Mughals, or Muslim rulers (because most certainly Sultanate = Mughals = Muslims in his head) is wrong.
But is that really happening?
But is that really happening?
CBSE, one of India’s apex boards, prescribes history from class VI thru class XII. So let’s examine what it prescribes for its students. We’ll take NCERT books as our official reference.
One class at a time.
One class at a time.
Class VI
A total of eleven topics, starting all the way back in the pre-Harappa times, and going on to cover Mehrgarh, Harappa, the janapadas, Buddha, Mahavira, Upanishads, Ashoka, and even the Jatakas.
No Muslim so far.
A total of eleven topics, starting all the way back in the pre-Harappa times, and going on to cover Mehrgarh, Harappa, the janapadas, Buddha, Mahavira, Upanishads, Ashoka, and even the Jatakas.
No Muslim so far.
Class VII
Now this is where the Muslims finally show up. One chapter on the Delhi Sultanate, one on the Mughals. Yeah, one each.
Out of 10.
Rest? Cholas, Cheras, temples, trades, Hampi, Surat, the tribals, and even the Ahoms. There’s also Nanak and Bhakti Cult.
Now this is where the Muslims finally show up. One chapter on the Delhi Sultanate, one on the Mughals. Yeah, one each.
Out of 10.
Rest? Cholas, Cheras, temples, trades, Hampi, Surat, the tribals, and even the Ahoms. There’s also Nanak and Bhakti Cult.
Okay, the last chapter does have some additional Muslim presence in the form of residual Mughals, Awadh, Bengal, and the Nizam, but they still have to share space with the Rajputs, the Jats, the Marathas, and the Sikhs.
Class VIII
Ten chapters, almost entirely on post-Mughal subjects. East India Company and the later British Raj dominates this syllabus with a spattering of concurrent social reform movements (Sati, Untouchability, etc.).
No Mughal, no Sultanate, no Muslim rule.
Ten chapters, almost entirely on post-Mughal subjects. East India Company and the later British Raj dominates this syllabus with a spattering of concurrent social reform movements (Sati, Untouchability, etc.).
No Mughal, no Sultanate, no Muslim rule.
Class IX
Forget Mughals or Muslims this one isn’t even about India. All five chapters involve world history—the French and Russian Revolutions, Nazism, fascism, etc.
Forget Mughals or Muslims this one isn’t even about India. All five chapters involve world history—the French and Russian Revolutions, Nazism, fascism, etc.
Class X
Five chapters, almost all on nationalism, both in India as well as in Europe. European nationalism as a vector of evil and Indian as one of emancipation.
Some cursory reference to the Muslim world in the last chapter on print history, but barely 2 paragraphs.
Five chapters, almost all on nationalism, both in India as well as in Europe. European nationalism as a vector of evil and Indian as one of emancipation.
Some cursory reference to the Muslim world in the last chapter on print history, but barely 2 paragraphs.
Class XI
11 chapters as a recap of all history, Indian and global. Only one on Muslims in the context of empires. Just as there’s others on the Greeks, the Romans, and the Chinese.
11 chapters as a recap of all history, Indian and global. Only one on Muslims in the context of empires. Just as there’s others on the Greeks, the Romans, and the Chinese.
Class XII
15 chapters in total, spread across three volumes. Just as XI was a recap of world history, this one’s a recap of Indian history. There’s Harappa, Bhakti, Sufi, Colonialism, freedom movement, and even Vijayanagar. And Muslims?
One chapter on the Mughals.
15 chapters in total, spread across three volumes. Just as XI was a recap of world history, this one’s a recap of Indian history. There’s Harappa, Bhakti, Sufi, Colonialism, freedom movement, and even Vijayanagar. And Muslims?
One chapter on the Mughals.
So in its entire 7-yr curriculum, NCERT includes a grand total of one chapter on Delhi Sultanate, two on Mughals, and one on the Middle East in the context of world history. That’s it, only 4 chapters on Muslims.
Out of 67.
Out of 67.
And don’t forget, that’s three chapters (excluding the one on Middle East) to cover nearly 500 years of history under Muslim rule.
And what about Prithviraj Chauhan?
And what about Prithviraj Chauhan?
Nothing beyond a cursory mention in VI. But that’s one man. And he didn’t even impact national history. Sure he’s important in Rajasthan and sure the state syllabus does justice you him with dedicated chapters. But nationally? Even Shivaji and Akbar don’t have dedicated chapters.
Now whether you still wish to continue cursing our curriculum for being too “Muslim-heavy” is your choice. Just know that your criticism doesn’t hold up to empirical scrutiny.
P.S. Some might call this observation dishonest as it considers the latest curriculum. Fair enough. So here’s one from 2014, before BJP got the chance to “fix” it: cbse.gov.in
See pages 234-243.
To summarize…
Total topics: 31
Topics on Muslims: 3
See pages 234-243.
To summarize…
Total topics: 31
Topics on Muslims: 3
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