NCERT Special Module Blames Jinnah, Congress, Mountbatten For Partition, Sparks Political Row

NCERT released a special module for Classes 6–12 on Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, triggering a political storm over its interpretation of India’s division, reported India Today.

"There were three elements responsible for the Partition of India: Jinnah, who demanded it; second, the Congress, which accepted it; and third, Mountbatten, who implemented it," the module says.

The text also notes that Partition turned Kashmir into a new security problem for the country, adding: “It created a challenge for India’s foreign policy. Some countries, in the name of Kashmir, keep giving aid to Pakistan and use it to exert pressure on India".

NCERT created separate versions for Classes 6–8 and 9–12, outside regular textbooks.

The module refers to Jinnah’s 1940 Lahore Resolution that declared Hindus and Muslims belonged to "two different religious philosophies, social customs, and literatures".

It argues that the British tried to maintain unity by offering dominion status, which Congress rejected.

Quoting Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, it notes: “India had become a battlefield and it was better to partition the country than to have a civil war.”

Mahatma Gandhi opposed partition but stated, "If the Congress wishes to accept partition, it will be against my advice...But I will not oppose it with violence or anger."

Eventually, Nehru and Patel accepted division, and Gandhi persuaded the Congress Working Committee on 14 June, 1947, to agree.

The module strongly blames Lord Mountbatten for hastening the transfer of power from June 1948 to August 1947, causing chaos in boundary demarcation.

The NCERT text has stirred a controversy with Congress spokesperson slamming it.

“Burn this document as it doesn’t tell the truth. Partition happened due to nexus between Hindu Mahasabha and Muslim League," Khera said in a press conference, India Today reported.

"RSS is danger to this nation. Idea of partition was first propagated by Hindu Mahasabha in 1938. It was repeated by Jinnah in 1940," he added.

Also Read: India’s War Legends Enter The Classroom: Sam Manekshaw, Brig Usman, Somnath Sharma Now In NCERT Syllabus