Revised NCERT textbook mentions Babri Masjid as ‘three-domed structure’, shortens Ayodhya section from four two pages – Key changes listed here

The previous textbook described the Babri Masjid as a 16th-century mosque built by Mughal emperor Babur’s General Mir Baqi.

The newly revised NCERT Class 12 Political Science textbook, released last week, has made significant changes to its coverage of the Ayodhya dispute. Notably, the textbook no longer mentions the Babri Masjid by name, referring to it instead as a “three-domed structure”, reported The Indian Express.

Also, the section on Ayodhya has been reduced from four pages to two, with several critical details omitted from the previous version.

The omitted details include the BJP’s rath yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya, the role of kar sevaks, the communal violence following the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, the imposition of President’s rule in BJP-ruled states, and the BJP’s expression of regret over the Ayodhya events.

As reported by The Indian Express on April 5, NCERT had previously disclosed some changes, such as the removal of at least three references to the demolition and emphasis on the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. However, the full extent of these revisions has only now become apparent.

The previous textbook described the Babri Masjid as a 16th-century mosque built by Mughal emperor Babur’s General Mir Baqi. The revised text now describes it as “a three-dome structure (that) was built at the site of Shri Ram’s birthplace in 1528,” highlighting Hindu symbols and relics within its interior and exterior.

The old textbook detailed the mobilisation on both sides after the masjid’s locks were opened in February 1986, the subsequent communal tension, and the demolition of the mosque, followed by violence in January 1993. This has been replaced with a brief paragraph summarizing these events without mentioning communal violence or political repercussions.

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Additionally, a new subsection titled “From Legal Proceedings to Amicable Acceptance” has been added, covering the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict on the Ayodhya dispute. It emphasizes the legal resolution process and the construction of the Ram temple while acknowledging the provision for a mosque by the Sunni Central Waqf Board.

Images of newspaper headlines and critical judicial observations from the old textbook have been removed, replaced by excerpts from the 2019 Supreme Court verdict. This revision marks the fourth update of NCERT textbooks since 2014, reflecting the latest political and judicial developments.