NCERT Releases New Class 9 Social Science Book, Details Resistance Against Mughals, Turks, Portuguese | Education and Career News
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The NCERT Class 9 Social Science book states Mughal forces took months to suppress the 1669 Jat uprising, while the Jats rebelled again in 1686 during Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaigns.
The NCERT textbook examines the role of religious traditions in warfare. (File Photo)
The newly released Part 2 of the NCERT Class 9 Social Science textbook documents several instances of resistance to Arab, Turkic, Mughal and European powers between 1000 and 1700 CE, highlighting the role of rulers, communities and lesser-known women leaders.
A chapter titled “Resistance and Resilience (1000–1700 CE)” describes resistance movements across different parts of the subcontinent. It includes accounts of women rulers such as Queen Naiki Devi of the Chaulukya kingdom and Rani Abbakka Chowta of Ullal.
According to the textbook, Naiki Devi defeated Muhammad Ghuri at Kasahrada, near Mount Abu, in 1178. It also discusses resistance by the Hindu Shahi rulers, Chandellas, Solankis and Chauhans against Turkic invaders, reported ANI.
Rani Abbakka Chowta, who ruled Ullal in present-day Karnataka from 1525 to 1570, is credited in the textbook with defeating Portuguese naval forces. Queen Rudrama Devi of the Kakatiya dynasty is also included among rulers who resisted the Delhi Sultanate.
The chapter also examines the resistance of the Jats against the Mughal Empire. It says Jats living in the Ganga-Yamuna Doab faced heavy taxation and exploitation and rebelled under Gokul Jat in 1669. A second uprising took place in 1686 under the zamindars of Sinsini and Sogar.
The textbook attributes the growing resentment among Jats to economic hardships as well as Aurangzeb’s religious policies. It says Mughal forces took several months to suppress the 1669 uprising, while the Jats later used the Mughal emperor’s prolonged military campaigns in the Deccan as an opportunity to rebel again.
“During the 17th century, the Jats, a farming community from the Ganga-Yamuna Doab, were burdened with heavy taxes and exploitation by Mughals. These economic hardships combined with Aurangzeb’s religious policies led to growing resentment amongst the Jats,” the textbook says.
The book also discusses Sikh resistance and the martyrdoms of Guru Arjan Dev and Guru Tegh Bahadur. It says the Mughal state’s intervention in Sikh affairs increased from the beginning of the 17th century as the influence of the Sikh Gurus grew.
The execution of Guru Arjan Dev during Jahangir’s reign and Guru Tegh Bahadur under Aurangzeb in 1675 are described as significant developments in Sikh history. The chapter also covers the establishment of the Akal Takht by Guru Hargobind and the development of the concept of miri-piri, representing spiritual and temporal authority.
“Due to the growing socio-cultural influence of the Sikh Gurus, the Mughal state increasingly intervened in their affairs from the beginning of the 17th century,” the book states.
Another section focuses on the Battle of Dewair, fought near Udaipur in 1582. The textbook says the battle led to the collapse of several Mughal military outposts in Mewar and helped Maharana Pratap regain control over much of the region. It adds that his successor, Maharana Amar Singh, continued the resistance against Mughal advances.
The chapter also recounts the Ahom resistance in Assam, including the Battle of Saraighat in 1671, when Ahom commander Lachit Borphukan defeated a Mughal fleet. It attributes the Ahoms’ success to strategic alliances, guerrilla tactics, the region’s geography and the Paik system.
The textbook further examines the role of religious traditions in warfare. It notes the long-standing worship of goddesses such as Kali, Durga and Bhavani and describes how rulers invoked different forms of Shakti as protectors during conflicts.
Among the traditions mentioned are accounts of Annamaraja of Bastar receiving his sword from Manikyadevi, or Danteshvari, and Vijayanagara ruler Kumara Kampana being believed to have used a goddess-given sword against Sultanate forces at Madurai. Shivaji is also described as being traditionally believed to have received a sword from goddess Tulja Bhavani.
The chapter includes lesser-known accounts of resistance as well. One example is Muthu Virappa Nayak of Madurai, who, according to local tradition, refused to bow to a ceremonial slipper sent by the Mughal court and instead placed his own foot inside it.
The textbook also mentions Gingee, or Senji, Fort in Tamil Nadu, which successively came under the control of the Vijayanagara Nayakas, Bijapuri Sultans, Mughals, Marathas, French and English. The fort was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025.
The release of Part 2 of the revised Class 9 Social Science textbook comes months after the academic session began. The delayed availability of the textbook had led to concerns and protests from parents on social media, who questioned why the revised books were not available even after the new academic session was underway.
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Ask News18The newly released Part 2 textbook documents resistance against Arab, Turkic, Mughal, and European powers between 1000 and 1700 CE. It highlights the role of various rulers, communities, and lesser-known women leaders across the Indian subcontinent.
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September 29, 2026, 08:02 IST
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