'Mughal brutalities', 'swords gifted by goddesses': How NCERT textbook paints medieval history

The NCERT's newly released Class 9 Social Science textbook describes 700 years of medieval India, the period from 1000 to 1700, as an era marked by invasions, resistance, and efforts to preserve Indian traditions.

Titled Understanding Society: India and Beyond- Part 2, the book was released on Tuesday (September 29), six months after the new academic session began. The first volume was introduced in June.

Textbook frames period around resistance

The chapter “Resistance and Resilience” covers the Delhi Sultanate, Mughal rule and the responses of regional powers including the Rajputs, Ahoms, Vijayanagara rulers, Marathas, Sikhs and Jats. According to a report by The Indian Express, the new volume gives greater space to resistance than to cooperation or the development of a composite culture.

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“The Indian subcontinent experienced repeated invasions and wars accompanied by religious discrimination and social distress. Regional powers frequently resisted invaders who were making inroads into their territories. This resistance took both military and cultural forms,” the textbook states.

“Nonetheless, this period manifested the resilience of the Indian civilisation, which safeguarded its core ideas and values. Indian society not only defended itself from external threats but also preserved its traditions,” it added.

Sikh history section focuses on Mughal persecution

The section on Sikh history discusses the persecution of Sikh Gurus under Mughal rule. It refers to the executions of Guru Arjun Dev and Guru Tegh Bahadur and the role of Guru Gobind Singh in the later development of Sikh resistance.

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“The brutality of the Mughal state against the Sikh Gurus, particularly Guru Arjun Dev, Guru Teg Bahadur and the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh, has few comparisons in history. The valour and sacrifice of the Gurus for the cause of the faith became a defining feature of Sikhism,” stated the textbook.

The textbook further stated that their treatment was linked to “rigid religious and discriminatory practices of the Mughals” and discusses the establishment of the Akal Takht and the concept of “miri-piri”.

Rajputs, Ahoms and Marathas in focus

It describes Maharana Pratap's resistance to Akbar, the Ahom kingdom's long defence against Mughal expansion and the battle of Saraighat. It also discusses Vijayanagara resistance, the Maratha concept of Swarajya and Jat opposition to Mughal rule.

The book refers to temple destruction and later reconstruction, including the Kashi Vishwanath temple. It also discusses Bhakti traditions and their role when temple-based worship faced restrictions.

Worship, 'swords of goddesses'

“Worship of goddesses was a long-standing tradition in India, and many kings and princes since the seventh century continued to invoke goddesses such as Kali, Durga, Bhavani and other forms of Shakti as protectors in times of conflict,” stated the textbook as quoted by the Indian Express.

It goes on to say that many kings received their swords from goddesses.

“Annamaraja, ruler of Bastar is believed to have received his sword from Manikyadevi (Danteshvari) while Kumara Kampana (Vijayanagara) was believed to have used a goddess-given sword against the Sultanate forces at Madurai. Similarly, Shivaji is also traditionally believed to have obtained a sword from goddess Tulja Bhavani,” the textbook says, as quoted by the Indian Express.

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“Social Science learning at this stage is expected to cultivate analytical and discursive abilities, encourage critical inquiry, promote intercultural understanding, and enable learners to participate with confidence and responsibility in civic and social life,” said NCERT chief Dinesh Saklani.

“It is in this spirit that Understanding Society: India and Beyond, the Grade 9 Social Science textbook for the Secondary Stage, has been conceptualised and developed,” he added.