Revised NCERT Class 8 textbook tweaks partition narrative, drops Hitler references
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced several changes in its revised Class 8 social science textbook, including modifications to the chapter on India's Partition, the addition of references to VD Savarkar, and the removal of mentions of Adolf Hitler and Nazi ideology.
The revised edition of Exploring Society: India and Beyond comes months after the previous version was withdrawn following controversy over content related to the judiciary. The Supreme Court had directed NCERT to revise the chapter after finding certain portions objectionable.
Among the key changes is the textbook's treatment of the 1947 Partition. The revised version states that Partition was "widely opposed even by the Indian National Congress" and adds that whether the Congress's acceptance of Partition was "the only way forward" remains a matter of debate. It also removes an earlier statement suggesting that Congress leaders accepted Partition because they were helpless amid widespread communal violence.
The updated textbook further expands the discussion on India's freedom movement by noting that VD Savarkar had also expressed a demand for Swaraj in 1925, alongside other leaders advocating complete independence.
Another notable revision is in the section on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The earlier edition stated that Bose sought support from German dictator Adolf Hitler and described Hitler's racist Nazi ideology and expansionist ambitions. The revised text now simply says Bose sought assistance from "anti-British forces", omitting all references to Hitler and Nazism.
The judiciary chapter has also undergone a complete rewrite. References to judicial backlog, corruption allegations and two major court judgments have been removed. New sections on Public Interest Litigation (PIL), tribunals and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms have been included.
NCERT said the revised textbook was prepared in compliance with the Supreme Court's directions after an expert committee reviewed the content. The acknowledgements also reflect changes in the textbook's development team, with the names of three contributors from the earlier edition no longer included.
The revised textbook is part of NCERT's effort to align its educational material with the court-mandated review while updating content for the current academic session.
