Memorandum submitted to Maharashtra Education Minister Dada Bhuse
Mumbai – The map of the Maratha Empire and historical references related to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had been removed from the Class 8 Social Science textbook of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The state government is in continuous discussions with the Central Government to re-include this glorious history, School Education Minister Dada Bhuse informed the Legislative Council in a written reply to a starred question.
Providing further details on this matter, Minister Bhuse said that it has come to notice that the map showing the expansion of the Maratha Empire and references to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj were removed from the English-medium textbook published by NCERT in July 2025. Prior to this, the map had also been removed from the Hindi and Urdu medium books. Due to this act, intense anger is being expressed among devotees of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and history lovers, and a massive protest march was also taken out in Satara against it.
The State Government sent an official letter to the NCERT headquarters in New Delhi on 9 March, submitting a memorandum regarding this issue. The government has also forwarded the necessary resource material to NCERT to ensure the glorious history of the Maratha Empire is fully reinstated in the curriculum. The government remains firmly resolved that all key historical aspects, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birth, childhood, the establishment of Hindavi Swarajya, his warfare strategy (guerrilla warfare), forts, administration, coronation, and the glorious history of the Marathas after him, must be included in the textbook.
Minister Bhuse concluded by clarifying that since the entire process in this regard is managed by the Delhi office of NCERT, the state government is maintaining constant contact with the Central Government on this matter.
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti meets Dada Minister Bhuse
Against the backdrop of this issue, a delegation of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti met Education Minister Dada Bhuse on 25 June. The Samiti handed over a detailed memorandum to the Minister demanding the re-inclusion of the Maratha Empire Expansion map in the Class 8 textbook of NCERT. Present on this occasion were the Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh Organiser of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Shri. Sunil Ghanwat, and Shri. Ravindra Nalawade.
Speaking with the Samiti’s representatives on this occasion, Minister Dada Bhuse said, “We have met Central Ministers regarding this matter and have also handed over an official letter to them. The Chief Minister of the state has also personally taken notice of this matter, and our efforts and discussions at the central level are continuously ongoing.”
