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Content earlier limited to 68 words expanded to over 2,200 words.
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The chapter now runs into 22 pages under ‘The Rise of Marathas.’
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Matter discussed during a half-hour session in the Legislative Council.
Nagpur (Maharashtra): The history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the NCERT syllabus prescribed for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has been significantly expanded. Earlier limited to just 68 words, the content has now been increased to nearly 2,200–2,500 words.
In the Class 8 textbook, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s life and work are now covered across 22 pages under the chapter titled ‘The Rise of Marathas.’ Minister of State Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar said efforts are underway to include the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in textbooks from Class 1 to Class 12.
The issue of inadequate coverage of Shivaji Maharaj’s history in the CBSE curriculum was raised by Independent MLA Satyajit Tambe during the half-hour discussion in the Legislative Council.
Responding to the discussion, Dr. Bhoyar said the state government is implementing several schemes in the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attempting to govern the country based on the “ideal system of administration” established by Shivaji Maharaj.
Nationalist Congress Party member Amol Mitkari pointed out that the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Authentic Biographical Sources Committee has not yet been constituted and that official volumes on Shivaji Maharaj have not been published by the government press. He also demanded the removal of derogatory videos, plays, stories, and writings about Dharmaveer Sambhaji Maharaj available on YouTube.
Congress member Jayant Asgaonkar alleged that Shivaji Maharaj’s history is often distorted in textbooks. While such errors are later corrected, he asked whether the government would take action against those responsible for the incorrect or distorted content.
Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) member Jagannath Abhyankar said that as per NCERT norms, the curriculum should consist of 70 per cent national history and 30 per cent state-level history, adding that Maharashtra’s share of history must be adequately represented.
Source: Sanatan Prabhat
