Why Does NCERT Dislike Tipu Sultan? History of His Wars Against the British Removed from Textbooks

#News Bureau July 18,2025

NCERT Removes Tipu Sultan’s History: The new Class 8 social science textbook by NCERT omits Tipu Sultan, Hyder Ali, and the Anglo-Mysore wars. How much of this is part of the government’s attempt to rewrite history? Find out:

Another case of NCERT rewriting history has come to light. In its new Class 8 social science textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond, NCERT has deliberately omitted any mention of Tipu Sultan, Hyder Ali, and the Anglo-Mysore Wars (1767–1799) in the chapter on India’s colonial era. This textbook was released this week for the current academic session, while its second part is expected to be published later this year.

The New Official Perspective on the Colonial Era
The chapter covers the period from Vasco da Gama’s arrival in India in the late 15th century to the late 19th century, including the 1857 “Great Indian Revolt.” It details how British traders turned into rulers, the 1757 Battle of Plassey—where the East India Company secured a decisive victory over the Nawab of Bengal—and the subsequent “decline” of India’s wealth during this era. However, it makes no mention of Mysore rulers Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali, who bravely resisted British rule. In other words, NCERT seems to consider the wars fought by these leaders against the British as irrelevant.

What the Old Textbook Included
The previous Class 8 social science textbook had a dedicated section on the expansion of East India Company rule between 1757 and 1857, which prominently featured Mysore rulers—particularly Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, famously known as the “Tiger of Mysore”—and the four Anglo-Mysore Wars fought in the 18th century. The absence of these events in the new textbook has sparked debate among educators and historians.

Superficial Coverage of Resistance Movements
The chapter briefly mentions early resistance movements against British colonial rule before the 1857 revolt, such as the 18th-century Sanyasi-Fakir Rebellion, the Kol uprising, the Santhal rebellion, and 19th-century peasant uprisings. However, it ignores the Mysorean resistance led by Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali. Instead, it dedicates a separate section to the Marathas, highlighting the Anglo-Maratha Wars fought between 1775 and 1818, noting that “the British fought the Marathas more fiercely than they did the Mughals or any other power.”

NCERT’s Explanation
Michel Danino, head of NCERT’s Social Science curriculum group, stated that the new textbook was prepared based on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework. He added that the second part of the textbook is still under development. When asked if Tipu Sultan and the Anglo-Mysore Wars would feature in it, he replied, “Probably not. It’s impossible to include every event from the colonial period; doing so would take us back to old textbooks crammed with dates and wars.” He explained that Classes 6–8 provide only a brief overview of Indian history, while Classes 9–12 will offer a more in-depth study of critical periods like colonial dominance.

New Perspective on Mughal Rulers
Yesterday, reports highlighted that NCERT’s new Class 8 social science book, Exploring Society: India and Beyond, presents the history of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals from a fresh perspective. It emphasizes the atrocities of Mughal rulers, particularly Babur, Akbar, and Aurangzeb, while adding a cautionary note that no one today should be held accountable for past events.

For the past four years, NCERT has been engaged in rewriting school history books. This is not the first instance. The book portrays Babur as a “brutal and ruthless conqueror” who massacred entire city populations and enslaved women and children. Akbar’s reign is described as a mix of “cruelty and tolerance,” citing the massacre of 30,000 civilians during the capture of Chittor Fort and the enslavement of women and children. Aurangzeb is noted for destroying temples and gurdwaras. A chapter titled Reshaping India’s Political Map covers Indian history from the 13th to the 17th century, including the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals, the Vijayanagar Empire, and the rise of the Sikhs.

The book also mentions resistance to Mughal rule by Jat farmers, Bhil, Gond, Santhal, and Koch tribes, as well as Rani Durgavati and the Ahoms. Compared to the old Class 7 textbook, this new book places greater emphasis on temple attacks and the cruelty of rulers.

The Question of Historical Rewriting and Fairness
The decision to include Mughal “cruelty” prominently in NCERT’s new Class 8 social science book is controversial. Presenting history fairly is a complex task that requires balancing different perspectives and facts. While NCERT claims the move aims to highlight the “darker chapters of history,” the question arises: is focusing solely on the Mughals’ negative image truly fair?

Mughal rule also contributed significantly to India’s art, culture, architecture, and administrative systems—for instance, Akbar’s policy of religious tolerance and Shah Jahan’s architectural marvels. Even today, India’s Prime Minister hoists the national flag from the Red Fort, and Rashtrapati Bhavan remains a British-built structure. If textbooks focus only on Mughal atrocities, they risk distorting history in a one-sided manner, undermining objectivity. Students deserve a comprehensive view of history, including both positive and negative aspects.

Selective rewriting in NCERT textbooks poses a serious risk of spreading misinformation. When history is presented through a narrow lens or agenda, it not only distorts facts but also deepens societal polarization. Children, who rely heavily on these textbooks in their formative years, may accept this one-sided narrative as truth, impairing their critical thinking and nuanced understanding of historical events.

Omitting Tipu Sultan and the Anglo-Mysore Wars from the new textbook may reflect a shift in teaching methodology, but it also overlooks an important chapter of resistance in Indian history. It remains to be seen whether the upcoming second part of the textbook addresses these contentious issues and assuages concerns raised by historians and educators.

Criticism and Response

The decision to omit these historical events from the new textbook has sparked anger among several organizations and individuals. The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) strongly condemned the move, alleging that it was done deliberately. The issue has also triggered widespread debate on social media, with many accusing it of being an attempt to distort history.