Class 9 history textbook highlights centuries of local resistance

A new Class 9 social science textbook describes 700 years of medieval Indian history from 1000 to 1700 AD as an era of resistance and resilience. Released on Tuesday, Part 2 of the textbook titled Understanding Society: India And Beyond focuses on how Indian society defended itself from external threats and preserved its traditions. The history section covers successive invasions and details how regional powers fought against the Turks, Mughals, and European forces. These include the Rajputs, the Ahom kingdom, the Vijayanagara empire, Marathas, Sikhs, and Jats.

Historical Figures

The textbook highlights how rulers invoked goddesses for protection during conflicts, noting traditions around figures like Annamaraja of Bastar, Kumara Kampana of Vijayanagara, and Shivaji. In the foreword, NCERT chief Dinesh Saklani states that the book aims to cultivate analytical abilities and promote intercultural understanding. The new volume replaces four older books, including India and The Contemporary World. The material devotes one page to the Delhi Sultanate and provides more detail on the Mughal period, highlighting resistance from figures like Maharana Pratap against Akbar and Ahom commander Lachit Borphukan's victory at the battle of Saraighat.

Cultural Shifts

Sections also detail the Maratha concept of Swarajya, Sikh spiritual and political resilience, and Jat opposition to Aurangzeb's policies. The text mentions temple destructions and reconstructions, noting how figures like Todarmal, Man Singh, and Ahilyabai Holkar rebuilt the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Furthermore, it credits the Bhakti movement with offering non-material worship when temple building faced restrictions, citing an instance where Chaitanya Mahaprabhu led a public sankirtan in Bengal against a Qazi's orders.

Context

Textbook revisions in India are periodically undertaken by educational authorities to update curricula and reflect changing academic frameworks. These revisions often spark public debate regarding how historical periods and regional kingdoms are represented in school syllabi.