NCERT calls Babur brutal: What history’s shifting lens reveals about the Mughal emperor

NCERT’s new Class 8 textbook calls Babur “brutal and ruthless,” sparking debates among students and scholars. But history’s view of the Mughal emperor has always been a shifting kaleidoscope—from Baburnama’s poetic warlord to British colonial critiques, and modern takes by Dalrymple and Maldahiyar. This article dives into centuries of contrasting portrayals and asks: Are students ready to meet Babur not as a hero or villain—but as both?

Education