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Brushing aside criticism by some historians that the history of medieval India had been diluted in the new curriculum, the National Council for Educational Research and Training on Thursday said, "Not a single stream of study covered by the old syllabus has been discarded in the new course. Rather, more chapters have been added covering the influence of hitherto ignored parts of India to the story of India's collective past."
Stating that the new history course had been planned scientifically, NCERT Director J S Rajput said in a statement that under the semester system, the two-year duration of higher secondary stage had been divided into four semesters of 104 periods each.
Ancient India would be taught in the first semester over 104 periods, while medieval India would be taught over 104 periods in the second semester, he said.
"The great Khiljis, Tuglaqs and Mughals will continue to be taught not just through the story of their rise and fall, but also in their lasting contribution to India's art, architecture, the sciences and social development," Rajput said.
"Memories of the discarded portions of the old NCERT history text, which made sweeping statements like 'ancient Aryans ate beef' or 'the antiquity of the Jain religion is baseless', or 'Guru Teg Bahadur committed plunder' are being needlessly raked up," he said.
Stating that NCERT's decision to delete those paragraphs were taken when specific complaints were received and the step was met with general appreciation, Rajput said: "Controversies, if any, will be treated with appropriate professional care. Due care will be attached to the importance of all points of view on any contentious issue. That is why the emphasis on Historiography in the new syllabus."
A section of historians had alleged that NCERT had made greater stress on ancient Indian history and drastically reduced the text on medieval India.
On compliance from some educationists, the National Human Rights Commission had issued a notice to the human resource development ministry and NCERT on the proposed changes in the textbooks seeking reply within eight weeks.
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