Union Govt being urged to restore the history of the Maratha Empire in NCERT textbooks : Dadaji Bhuse, School Education Minister

• Legislative Council Starred Question

• Required material has been submitted to the Union Government

(NCERT – National Council of Educational Research and Training)

Mumbai – The State Government is continuously pursuing the matter with the Union Government to restore the map of the Maratha Empire and historical references to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that were removed from the Class 8 Social Science textbook published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse said in a written reply to a starred question in the Legislative Council.

Providing further details, Minister Bhuse said that it had come to the State Government’s notice that NCERT had removed the map depicting the territorial extent of the Maratha Empire and references to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from the English-medium textbook published in July 2025. Earlier, the same map had also been removed from the Hindi and Urdu editions. The move triggered widespread outrage among admirers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and history enthusiasts, leading to a protest march in Satara.

On 9 March 2026, the State Government wrote to NCERT’s New Delhi office requesting the restoration of the glorious history of the Maratha Empire in the textbook. It has also submitted all the required reference material to NCERT. The State Government has strongly urged that the textbook should include Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birth, childhood, the establishment of Swarajya, his military strategy (Ganimi Kava), forts, administration, coronation, and the glorious history of the Marathas after his reign.

Minister Bhuse further clarified that, as all decisions regarding the textbook are taken by NCERT’s New Delhi office, the State Government has been maintaining constant follow-up with the Union Government on the matter.

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti meets Minister and submits memorandum

School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse receiving a memorandum from (left) Mr Ravindra Nalawade and Mr Sunil Ghanwat

Against this backdrop, a delegation of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti met School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse on 25 June and submitted a detailed memorandum demanding the restoration of the map of the Maratha Empire in NCERT’s Class 8 textbook, Hamare Ateet.

The delegation included Mr Sunil Ghanwat, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh Organiser of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, and Mr Ravindra Nalawade.

Speaking to the delegation, Minister Dadaji Bhuse said, “We have already met the Union Minister concerned and submitted an official letter on this issue. The Chief Minister of the State has also taken a personal interest in the matter, and our efforts and follow-up with the Union Government are continuing.”