9th July 2021 – Ever since the Narendra Modi government took charge of the office for its second term in 2019, the demand for change in the history curriculum has been picking up in all forms of media and academia. Finally, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has brought out some long-awaited changes to its Bachelors program for the History students.
The updated curriculum aims to ‘give Indians a feeling of ownership over their own history. It also would enable the students and future researchers to understand the past in its nature and totality. The new syllabus also includes the resurgence of Asian civilizations at the undergraduate level. ‘A serious remodeling of medieval period has been done that covers larger portions of India for a better understanding of Nation history.’
Besides many other vital changes, it introduces the students with the concept of Bharatvarsha, Vedas, Vedangas, Upanishads, Smritis and Puranas amongst others. Dharma Philosophy and Vasudeva Kutumbakam would be introduced in later stages of the program.
The sources of the information and books that are being referred to also some would see some significant changes. The new curriculum includes literature written by Indic scholars such as renowned R.C. Majumdar and A.D. Pusalkar. Sources such as Will Durant have also been referenced widely. Authors such as Romila Thapar, who have been alleged to have skewed version of Indian history, have found less space in the updated curriculum.
