The Distortion of Indian History: From the Mughal Empire to the Omission of Hindu Kings

Mohammad Saduddin

The RSS-BJP’s Hindutva agenda has extended so far that not only the Mughals but also their close Hindu kings and generals have been erased from India's national curriculum. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has made changes to the 8th-grade history textbook, which have sparked widespread protests across the country.

In the revised syllabus, the political history of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire has been removed, with only brief references to landmarks like the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Nizamuddin Dargah, and Lucknow’s Ghulghulia. The history of Rajputs, Solankis, Chauhans, and other Indian dynasties, who maintained good relations with the Mughal emperors, has been severely reduced.

Additionally, after the BJP came to power in 2014, several cities and places associated with the Mughal era were renamed. Examples include the renaming of Allahabad to Prayagraj and attempts to change the name of Murshidabad to Katra Masjid. These renaming efforts are part of a broader agenda to erase India’s rich historical legacy.

In Bengal, there is an ongoing attempt to distort the history of the Turkish Sultanate and the Nawabi era of Murshidabad. The legacies of the freedom fighters and historical monuments of Murshidabad are being neglected, and attempts are being made to erase the true history of the region.