UGC will now teach the valiant history of Hindu Kings instead of the Mughals !

Centre’s Praiseworthy Decision

The University Grants Commission of India (UGC) is a statutory body set up by Government of India, charged with coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education.

This is the first time the UGC has drafted a complete syllabus, as compared to previously issuing general guidelines. “A serious remodeling of medieval period has been done so that it covers larger portions of India for a better understanding of our history,” the Commission notes in the preamble to the proposed draft.

UGC has put together a new draft history syllabus for undergraduates that throws more light on the glorious history of valiant Hindu kings who fought the invaders (who had devastated numerous regions of our country).

History of India (Year 1206 to 1707) will now include the valour of Hindu kings such as Maharana Pratap, Hemu Vikramaditya, etc.

The syllabus will revolve around the sentiment of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The whole world is one family). Through this, the undergraduates will be provided education on Dharma (Righteousness). Subjects such as Ancient Indian Science and Technology are likely to be included.

Similarly, changes to the syllabus aim at increasing focus on religious texts with chapters dedicated to topics such as ‘The glory of Indian Literature : Veda, Vedanga, Upanishads, Epics, Jain and Buddhist Literature, Smriti, Puranas, etc.’ The intent is to highlight to students how India was during the Vedic times.

The language uses terms like ‘invasion’ to convey the arrival of Mughals in India and calls the arrival of East India Company a ‘territorial expansion’. The UGC added, “… Justice to the glorious past and vast canvas of Indian History can only be done by providing the much-needed space at micro and macro levels.”