MUMBAI: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court by descendants of Maratha royal families, challenging the National Council of Educational Research and Training’s (NCERT) decision to remove a map depicting the extent of the Maratha Empire from Class 8 social science textbooks.
The petition seeks restoration of a map illustrating the Maratha Empire’s territorial reach in 1759 CE, from Thanjavur to Peshawar. It alleges that NCERT removed the map following protests from former royal families in Rajasthan without examining historical records or completing a mandated expert committee review.
Filed by nine individuals — Raje Mudhoji Bhosle (Nagpur), Shivajiraje Jadhav (Sindkhed Raja), Hrushikesh Nikam Patil (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Raghujiraje Angre (Alibaug), Ravindra Padwal (Pune), Kunal Malusare (Pune), Ram Narayan Maratha (Panipat, Haryana), Sharad Mode (Beed) and Atharva Marne (Pune) — the petition states that the Maratha Empire dominated large parts of the Indian subcontinent during the 18th century. It contends that omitting the map in the revised textbooks deprives students of an accurate understanding of history.
Urging the High Court to intervene and direct NCERT to re-include the map, the petition argues that the Maratha Empire was not confined to Maharashtra but was a pan-Indian power extending “beyond Attock” (in present-day Pakistan). It adds that removing the map undermines the achievements of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, his successors, and the diverse communities associated with the empire.
The controversy relates to the July 2025 edition of the Class 8 textbook. In Unit 3 (page 71, Figure 3.11), a map depicted the expansion of the Maratha Empire as of 1759. However, the petition alleges that the map was “surreptitiously” removed after objections from former royal families and political leaders in Rajasthan. The objection reportedly concerned the depiction of the princely state of Jaisalmer and adjoining regions as being under Maratha control.
Citing a Right to Information (RTI) reply dated January 20, the petition claims that no historical documents, gazetteers or academic research were consulted before the map was removed. It argues that the decision violates constitutional rights by depriving students of accurate historical education and infringing upon cultural identity.
The petitioners have sought directions to quash NCERT’s decision, restore the map in the textbooks, and mandate the constitution of an independent expert committee before any future curriculum revisions.
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