Royal Objection: NCERT textbook draws flak from king over map showing Jaisalmer under Maratha rule

After the Mughal episode, the NCERT social science book has now irked a royal who has levelled objections to how Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer has been depicted. King Chaitanya Raj Singh Bhati, who currently wears the crown of the Jaisalmer Kingdom, pointed out that the map in Class 8 social science textbook wrongly shows the city under the Maratha Empire, terming it “historically misleading, factually baseless, and deeply objectionable.”

Actively involved in educational projects, the prince took his anger to social media and urged the Union education minister to intervene. In an aggressive post on X, he said, “The map shown in the NCERT Social Science textbook for Class 8 (Unit 3, page number 71) depicts Jaisalmer as a part of the then Maratha Empire, which is historically misleading, factually baseless, and deeply objectionable.”

Strongly criticising the National Council of Educational Research and Training ( NCERT ), the Maharawal remarked that such ‘unverified’ and ‘historically unsubstantiated’ information not only questions the council’s credibility but also hurts the nation’s glorious history and public sentiments.

The Jaisalmer king accused the NCERT of trying to ruin the sacrifices made by the ancestors. “This issue is not merely a textbook error but appears to be an attempt to tarnish the sacrifices, sovereignty, and valorous saga of our ancestors,” he charged.

Demand for corrections in NCERT book

Correcting the supposed mistake, Bhati said that no authentic sources in history mention any Maratha dominance, invasion, taxation, or authority in the context of Jaisalmer. On the contrary, the royal records clearly state that the Maratha never had any interference in the princely state.

On behalf of the Jaisalmer family, the ruler urged Dharmendra Pradhan to take a serious note of the erroneous, malicious, and agenda-driven presentations by NCERT and demanded immediate correction.

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“This is not just a matter of factual correction but is connected to our historical dignity, self-respect, and the integrity of the national curriculum. Prompt and concrete action is expected on this matter,” Chaitanya Raj Bhati said while tagging NCERT.

Adding to the rage, Brigadier Bhupesh Singh, who has received Shaurya Chakra, rapped NCERT and said, “What is this fictitious empire that supposedly ruled over Rajputana? We were never under the Marathas - do not wound our pride with fabricated stories. Oppressing and plundering one's own people is not called an empire.” “Please stop this fakery, don't brainwash our children,” he urged Pradhan and the education ministry.