Major Somnath Sharma and Battle of Budgam included in NCERT textbook

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has added a chapter on Major Somnath Sharma and the Battle of Budgam to the new Class 8 English textbook titled Poorvi. The chapter, included in Unit 2: Values and Dispositions, aims to teach students the importance of courage, selflessness, and patriotism.

Major Somnath Sharma, the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, was martyred in 1947 while defending Srinagar during the Battle of Budgam against raiders backed by Pakistan. The seven-page chapter details the Pakistani-led Operation Gulmarg and highlights the bravery shown by Sharma and his battalion, despite being vastly outnumbered.

The textbook, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023, also features inspirational figures such as Verghese Kurien and Bibha Chowdhuri. Kurien’s chapter, I Too Had a Dream, underlines values of integrity and social responsibility, while Chowdhuri’s story encourages scientific curiosity and highlights her role as India’s first female particle physicist.

Each unit of the new book includes stories, poems, and conversations to build literary appreciation and life skills. Units range from themes like Wit and Wisdom, featuring Tenali Rama, to Mystery and Magic, and Environment, with contributions from Sarojini Naidu and Ruskin Bond.

The new Class 8 textbook rollout is part of NCERT’s broader curriculum revision. While several updated books have already been released, the remaining ones are expected to be introduced by year-end.