NCERT introduces Class 8 textbook highlighting Indian scientists, soldiers, and reformers

The National Council of Educational Research and Training has released a new Class 8 English textbook titled "Poorvi" as part of its ongoing curriculum overhaul under the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023.

The revised textbook moves away from Eurocentric content and instead centers on Indian personalities, values, and stories aimed at nurturing curiosity, critical thinking, and compassion among students.

Featured in the book are Major Somnath Sharma, India’s first Param Vir Chakra awardee; Verghese Kurien, known for leading the country’s White Revolution; and Bibha Chowdhuri, India’s first woman particle physicist.

The book is organized into five thematic units that include stories, poems, dialogues, and descriptive texts, all designed to reflect real-life situations familiar to students.

The five themes focus on wit and wisdom, values and dispositions, mystery and magic, environment, and science and curiosity.

The opening unit, which features folk tales of Tenali Rama, encourages students to think critically and solve problems.

The second unit, Values and Dispositions, includes a chapter about Major Sharma’s bravery during the Battle of Badgam and an excerpt from Kurien’s autobiography "I Too Had a Dream," highlighting lessons on courage and service.

The Mystery and Magic unit explores creativity and imagination through fictional and poetic texts.

The Environment section features writing by Ruskin Bond, Sarojini Naidu, and Kamakshi Balasubramanian, with the goal of building environmental awareness.

The final section, Science and Curiosity, celebrates Indian contributions to science. A chapter on Bibha Chowdhuri is included to inspire girls to take an interest in STEM fields by drawing from India’s own scientific legacy.

NCERT said the book includes broader educational values such as Indian knowledge systems, cultural heritage, gender sensitivity, and inclusion.

"Language education is essential for effective communication, aesthetic expression, and appreciation. Reasoning and critical thinking are closely linked with language use, and these are valuable capacities to be developed," the introductory note states.

The title "Poorvi," which has drawn some public attention, is inspired by the Indian raga of the same name.

"This raga is said to promote harmony and serenity... Each raga in Indian music carries its own emotional significance, evoking a sense of calmness and contemplation in the journey of learners, symbolizing a harmonious blend of traditional and modern learning," the textbook explains.

This Class 8 textbook release is part of a phased rollout. New textbooks for Classes 1 and 2 were launched in 2023, followed by Classes 3 and 6 in 2024. The latest phase includes revised textbooks for Classes 4, 5, 7, and 8.