The Washington PostThe Washington Post

New Indian textbooks purged of nation’s Muslim history

By Anumita Kaur

06 Apr 2023 · 3 min read

Editor's Note

Indian students will no longer learn about Gandhi’s assassination or the history of the Taj Mahal. The change is another attempt by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to further a Hindu nationalist agenda.

The Taj Mahal is one of India's most iconic sites. But this year, millions of students across India won't delve into the Mughal Empire that constructed it.

Instead, Indian students have new textbooks that have been purged of details on the nation's Muslim history, its caste discrimination and more, in what critics say warps the country's rich history in an attempt to further Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist agenda.

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