Smriti Irani, on allegations of portraying Mughals as cruel in NCERT books, said that it is necessary to teach history in a balanced manner. The curriculum is prepared by subject matter experts based on facts, not political agendas.
Education: A debate has once again erupted in the country regarding NCERT's history books. This time, the issue is related to showing Mughal rulers as cruel in the curriculum. Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, Smriti Irani, has reacted to this issue. She clearly stated that historical facts cannot be distorted, and it is not appropriate to portray any ruler as solely good or solely bad.
Smriti Irani Gives a Clear Reaction
Smriti Irani was asked whether Mughal rulers, especially emperors like Akbar, are being deliberately presented in a negative light in NCERT books, causing resentment among the Muslim community. To this, she said that NCERT is an independent educational institution that prepares the curriculum based on the education policies implemented in the country. Experts play a vital role in this, and the entire process is based on facts.
It is Necessary to Teach History in a Balanced Manner
Irani also said that if only the good deeds of a ruler like Akbar are highlighted, and the controversies or cruel events that occurred during his reign are ignored, it would be unfair to history. She believes that history should be taught in its entirety so that students are aware of both aspects—good and bad. She said that the aim should never be to influence students from just one side.
Talking About Protecting Education from Political Interests
Smriti Irani also emphasized that the education system should not be used for political interests. She said that the curriculum should be prepared based solely on historical facts and evidence, keeping it away from political influence. Her clear message was that glorifying or insulting any community, religion, or historical figure in books is against the principles of education.
Mughal Rulers Were Not Part of Any Party
Smriti Irani also said in a satirical tone, "The last time I checked, no Mughal ruler was a member of any political party, nor were they representing any government institution." She said that it is wrong to view historical characters from today's political perspective. She also said that people often say that what is past is past, but it is also important to accept the truth of the past, no matter how bitter that truth may be.
Are the Mughals Being Deliberately Shown Negatively?
The question of whether the current government is presenting history from a particular perspective has been under discussion for a long time. In particular, is there a political motive behind portraying Mughal emperors as cruel and tyrannical? When Smriti Irani was asked about this, she clearly said that what is written in history books is prepared by experts based on evidence. The government does not directly interfere in this process.
Questions Regarding King Ashoka and Other Rulers
When she was asked whether the BJP government is ignoring the atrocities of rulers like Ashoka while giving prominence to the negative image of the Mughals, she said, "I don't think anything has been hidden about Ashoka. Everything is clearly written in all the history books I have read." She also said that she is not a historian, so those who decide on this subject based on evidence are the only ones who can shed proper light on it.
Allegations Against BJP of "Saffronizing Education"
The BJP has long been accused of saffronizing education with regards to changes in the NCERT curriculum. That is, trying to present history from a Hindutva perspective. However, Irani dismissed these allegations as baseless and said that the government's aim is only to make students aware of the facts, not to impose any ideology.
It is Not Right to Connect History with Current Politics
Smriti Irani also believes that it is not appropriate to connect history with current politics. Viewing any historical event or character from today's political perspective can make the interpretation of history misleading. She said that students will be able to make the right decisions only when they are shown all aspects of the past.
