Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Saturday (22nd November), welcomed the reported move by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to remove the epithet “great” from the names of Mughal invader Akbar and Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan in school history textbooks.

Speaking at an event in Bongaigaon, Sarma responded strongly to the reports. He said “Very well done,” and then added a sharp remark aimed directly at Tipu Sultan. Sarma said, “Tipu-Ipu ko maro ekdum. Jahan bhejna hai, udhar hi bhej do. Samundar mein phek do.” (Beat up that Tipu. Send him wherever you want. Throw him into the sea.) He said that if this change had indeed been made, NCERT deserved appreciation.

According to early information shared by various political groups and educational observers, NCERT’s decision removes the long-used honorific “Great” from Akbar and Tipu Sultan. This update immediately triggered intense political reactions from different sides.
Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Sunil Ambekar supported the update, saying it was a positive step. He explained that the new content avoids glorifying these rulers and instead gives students space to understand their actions, including their cruel deeds. He said this shift gives a more complete picture of history rather than a one-sided version.

Hindu groups express approval for NCERT revisions

Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) spokesperson Vinod Bansal also supported the changes introduced by NCERT. He said that historical narratives around figures like Akbar and Tipu Sultan had been misrepresented for many years. Bansal questioned how Akbar could be called “great” while brave figures like Maharana Pratap, who challenged him, were not given equal importance.

He thanked NCERT for correcting what he described as unnecessary glorification of Mughal rulers on Indian soil. Bansal said this was a much-needed step for presenting Indian history with more focus on facts rather than praise.
The latest NCERT revisions are part of a broader effort to reshape educational content so that students receive history without excessive admiration for medieval rulers. This includes removing or adjusting multiple chapters related to that era.

Congress leader opposes changes, calls Akbar ‘King Of Communal Harmony’

Congress leader K. Muraleedharan sharply criticised the NCERT decision, saying the rulers being targeted represented unity and resistance, not division.
In his statement to ANI, he defended them by saying “Akbar was a king of communal harmony. He accepted the Hindu religion also. He gave freedom to Hindus. Tipu Sultan fought against the English. That is the reason he was killed. They were great administrators. Even Shivaji is a great administrator, no doubt. So this attitude of the central government is not right,” he said, according to ANI.

His remarks added a new angle to the political debate, showing how historical interpretations continue to divide opinions between parties. For him, both Akbar and Tipu Sultan were symbols of governance and courage, not figures to be reduced or criticised in school textbooks.

RSS leader says history books improve; Akbar and Tipu not labelled ‘great’ anymore

RSS leader Sunil Ambekar further explained that NCERT has brought major changes to its history textbooks, including the decision to stop calling Akbar and Tipu Sultan “the great”. He said these updates show a positive shift in how students will now learn history.

Speaking at the Orange City Literature Festival hosted by the SGR Knowledge Foundation, Ambekar repeated that while the wording has changed, “nobody has been removed” from the textbooks. He said young students must know the complete actions of these rulers and must learn about their “cruel deeds”, instead of reading only selective praise.
He emphasised that these changes help present the past in a more balanced and detailed manner.

NCERT updates textbooks across several classes

Ambekar, who serves as the Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the RSS, said NCERT has already revised textbooks for 11 out of the 15 classes. He called this a “very good initiative” and noted that new textbooks for Classes 9, 10 and 12 will be introduced next year.

He said he has seen “many good changes” in the reworked curriculum and suggested that more updates may happen in the coming years.
One of the notable changes is that mentions of “Akbar the Great” and “Tipu Sultan the Great” have been removed from the new editions.

Even though some people disagree with highlighting the negative aspects of history, Ambekar insisted that “this cannot happen, and it should be told,” stressing the importance of teaching students the full context of historical events.

India’s ancient wisdom and Nalanda’s contribution

Ambekar also spoke about India’s long tradition of advanced knowledge systems. He said that revisiting this ancient wisdom could help improve society today. While explaining this, he highlighted that Nalanda University was far more diverse than what many people assume.

According to him, the ancient university offered 76 skill-based courses, covering subjects such as farming techniques, city planning, make-up, training of secret agents, political governance, and even early forms of mechanisation.
He said these examples show how strong and practical the Indian education system was centuries ago, with deep roots in applied learning and innovation.

Thoughts on culture, development and society

Ambekar said that India is moving forward, but the country must think carefully about the kind of society it wants to shape. He said that several civilisations in history lost their way because they abandoned their culture and values while chasing development. Many of them, he said, damaged their family life and identity in the process.

Reflecting on the Ram temple movement in Ayodhya, he said many people misunderstood what it stood for. He explained this by saying “I would say it was not just about building the temple. It was a campaign to make people understand all this,” encouraging people to think more deeply about their bond with Lord Ram and India’s cultural roots.

Ambekar ended his remarks by praising India’s young generation. He said the youth are capable, aware and patriotic. He added that many young people now feel that “patriotism is a cool thing”, and he expressed confidence that they will play a strong role in shaping the nation’s future.