History of Mughal Brutal Persecution of Sikh Gurus in New Indian Textbook
India’s new NCERT Class 9 Social Science textbook describes the Mughal treatment of Sikh Gurus as extremely brutal and says it was driven by a “strict religious and discriminatory policy.” The information appears in the history chapter “Resistance and Resilience (1000–1700 CE)” of Understanding Society: India and Beyond Part 2, released on Tuesday. The chapter discusses the struggles of Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh, linking their sacrifices to the foundations of Sikh resistance.
The textbook says the “courage and sacrifice” of Sikh Gurus for their faith became one of the defining features of Sikhism. It states, “The incidents of Mughal brutality against the Sikh Gurus, particularly Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Tegh Bahadur and the tenth Guru Gobind Singh, are rare in history.” It further says their sacrifices strengthened the Sikh community’s belief that all forms of oppression must be met through “firm resistance and resilience.”
According to the textbook, as the social and cultural influence of the Sikh Gurus grew from the early 17th century, the Mughal Empire increasingly began to intervene in Sikh affairs. The book says Mughal Emperor Jahangir ordered the execution of Guru Arjan Dev on allegations that he had supported his rebellious son, Khusrau Mirza. Guru Arjan’s martyrdom is described as a “turning point” in Sikh history.
The chapter also discusses the imprisonment of Guru Hargobind at Gwalior Fort and the establishment of the Akal Takht as a centre of temporal authority. It describes the concept of “Miri-Piri” as a unique combination of spiritual and temporal power.
Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh
Regarding Guru Tegh Bahadur, the textbook says Aurangzeb ordered his execution in 1675, describing the event as a major turning point in Indian history. It says Mughal persecution and political pressure later contributed to the emergence of organized armed resistance. The chapter also discusses Guru Gobind Singh’s establishment of the Khalsa in 1699. It says the Khalsa adopted a distinct military code in response to changing social and political conditions, further linking Sikh religious identity with political identity.
Different from Earlier NCERT Textbooks
The new textbook’s interpretation differs from the approach taken in some earlier NCERT books. An earlier Class 11 NCERT history textbook written by historian Satish Chandra described conflicts between the Sikh Gurus and the Mughals during the reigns of Emperor Jahangir and Emperor Shah Jahan as “political and personal, rather than religious.”
On the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the earlier textbook presented multiple historical perspectives and said it was difficult to establish the exact reason. Persian accounts referred to political unrest, while Sikh traditions offered a different explanation. Similarly, a Class 7 textbook first published in 2007 explained Guru Arjan’s execution mainly in a political context. It said Emperor Jahangir viewed the growing Sikh community as a potential political threat to the Mughal state and ordered the execution.
Historian Criticizes New Interpretation
Historian Ruchika Sharma, a specialist in medieval Indian history, has criticized the interpretation in the new textbook. She argues that the conflict between the Sikhs and the Mughals was primarily political rather than religious. Ms. Sharma argues that Guru Arjan’s support for Khusrau represented a political move against Emperor Jahangir. She also says the later establishment of the Akal Takht and the expansion of Sikh military activities posed a direct challenge to Mughal authority.
Historians have long debated whether political, religious or social factors were the main causes of Sikh-Mughal conflicts. Modern research, for example, has examined Guru Arjan’s execution in the context of changing relations between the Sikh community and Emperor Jahangir’s rule. The chapter is not limited to the history of the Sikh Gurus. It also covers resistance by the Jats, Ahoms, Rajputs and other groups against the Mughals and other ruling powers of the period.
It highlights figures and events including Nayaki Devi of the Chaulukya Empire, Rani Abbakka Chowta of Ullal, Maharana Pratap and the Ahom victory over the Mughals in the Battle of Saraighat. The chapter also includes the history of Jat rebellions against increased taxation and exploitation. The Class 9 Social Science textbook is part of NCERT’s ongoing revision of textbooks under India’s National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework 2023.
