- 18 July, 2025
India, July 18, 2025: The NCERT Class VIII history textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond has come under criticism from historians for allegedly offering "communal interpretations" of historical events without adequate evidence.
The book states that Central Asian invaders were drawn to India not only for its wealth and territorial expansion, but also to propagate “their own versions of their religion, by force of violence if necessary.” It further claims that Delhi Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji targeted Hindu religious centres including Srirangam, Madurai, Chidambaram, and possibly Rameswaram.
The textbook describes the Delhi Sultanate period as one marked by the destruction of sacred images in Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu temples, attributing this to both plunder and iconoclasm. On the jizya — a tax imposed on non-Muslims — it asserts that the levy was “a source of economic burden and public humiliation,” and served as “a financial and social incentive” for conversion to Islam, subject to the discretion of the ruling authority.
Citing the memoirs of Timur, who invaded India in 1398, the book claims his dual motive was “to wage war with the infidels and to gain something by plundering the wealth of the infidels.”
Regarding the Mughal emperor Akbar, the book presents a nuanced portrayal—describing both brutality and tolerance. It mentions that at Chittor fort, Akbar allegedly ordered the killing of approximately 30,000 civilians and the enslavement of surviving women and children. It quotes his message of victory, claiming he said: “We have succeeded in occupying a number of forts and towns belonging to the infidels and have established Islam there. With the help of our bloodthirsty sword, we have erased the signs of infidelity from their minds and have destroyed temples in those places and also all over Hindustan.”
The text also acknowledges Akbar’s later actions, noting that he welcomed Rajput and regional leaders into his court, abolished the jizya, and promoted the doctrine of sulh-i-kul, or “peace with all,” endorsing religious tolerance.
The book includes a disclaimer: “...It is important to keep in mind that we, today, bear no responsibility for actions of individuals hundreds of years ago.”
However, several historians have raised concerns over the reliability of these interpretations. Jitendra Meena, assistant professor of history at Shyam Lal College, Delhi, questioned the claim that the Central Asian invasions were motivated by religious aims. “The writers have given communal interpretations to historical events that cannot be established by facts. Where is the evidence that spreading religion was the intention of the Central Asian invaders?” he asked.
Meena argued that Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked mosques as well as temples, and refuted the claim that jizya encouraged religious conversion. He also challenged the portrayal of Akbar’s massacre at Chittor as religiously driven, stating that there is no proof to support such a motive.
Courtesy: The Telegraph
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