NCERT’s New Partition Module Sparks Debate
The National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) has released two new special modules on India’s Partition, marking Partition Horrors Remembrance Day observed annually on August 14. The publications, designed as supplementary resources for middle and secondary school students, have stirred debate by identifying three main culprits behind the division of India in 1947: Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Congress leadership, and Lord Mountbatten.
The modules are not part of regular textbooks but are short, theme-based supplements in English and Hindi, taught through discussions, projects, and debates. One is meant for Classes 6 to 8, while the other caters to Classes 9 to 12.
Naming the “Culprits of Partition”
A section in the middle-stage module, titled Culprits of the Partition, states:
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Jinnah, “who demanded it.”
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Congress, “which accepted it.”
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Mountbatten, “who implemented it.”
It also features a striking quote from Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in July 1947: “Partition is bad. But whatever the price of unity, the price of civil war would be infinitely greater.”
The module narrates that while Mahatma Gandhi strongly opposed Partition, he ultimately persuaded Congress leaders to accept it when faced with the risk of civil war. Vallabhbhai Patel described Partition as a “bitter medicine,” while Nehru justified the decision as a lesser evil compared to a prolonged civil conflict.
PM Modi’s Message on Partition Horrors
Both modules begin with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message recalling his 2021 declaration of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. In a post on X, he had written: “Partition’s pains can never be forgotten. Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced, and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence.”
The modules emphasize that Partition was “not inevitable” but rather the result of “wrong ideas.” The secondary-stage publication further links the Pakistan demand to the ideology of “political Islam,” which, it argues, rejected permanent equality with non-Muslims.
Historian Voices Concern on Oversimplification
While many welcomed NCERT’s initiative to highlight Partition in school discussions, historians have urged caution. Dr. Ruchika Sharma, Delhi-based historian and professor, argued that blaming only Jinnah, Mountbatten, and Congress is misleading. She pointed to the role of the Hindu Mahasabha and ideologues such as VD Savarkar, who advocated for a Hindu-only nation.
According to Dr. Sharma, such ideas contributed to Muslim fears of exclusion in independent India, fueling demands for Pakistan. She stressed that Partition was shaped by multiple political, social, and religious factors, and simplifying it to three individuals risks distorting history for students.
Long-Term Consequences Highlighted
The modules also underline the unprecedented scale of human suffering caused by Partition, which killed at least 600,000 people and displaced 15 million across borders. They describe the catastrophe as having “no parallel in world history.”
In a section titled Long-Term Losses — Still Ongoing, the secondary-stage module traces Partition’s legacy to present-day conflicts. It notes how Partition fractured India’s unity, devastated Punjab and Bengal’s economies, and set Jammu and Kashmir on a path of conflict and instability. It also highlights how Partition entrenched “suspicion and animosity between Hindus and Muslims,” fueling ongoing communal divisions.
The module further links Partition to India’s defence challenges, wars with Pakistan, terrorism in Kashmir, and long-term foreign policy complications.
Why the Debate Matters Today
By framing Partition in moral terms and naming “culprits,” NCERT’s new modules are likely to spark fresh discussions on how young Indians are taught about their country’s most traumatic political rupture. While the initiative underscores the importance of remembering Partition’s human cost, historians argue that presenting a one-dimensional blame narrative risks ignoring the complex interplay of leaders, ideologies, and circumstances that shaped 1947.
With India still grappling with the communal divides seeded during Partition, how this story is taught may shape not just historical understanding but also the way future generations perceive present-day politics and society.
