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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 2, 2020
After going through this Class 8 history text book from NCERT, India, I feel hopeful for students in India, as I believe, this is exactly how a History text book should be written - without becoming too pedagogic, rather encouraging self-exploration.
I agree, that the sections of India's freedom struggle and Indian history post-independence, are under-represented, and also, one can always find their heroes missing in the narration, but striking a balance between too little and too much is always a difficult task for any text-book creator for a particular class of students. The narration style of story-telling, the focus on imagination and contextual evaluation, and providing the correlation between the past and present - the writers of this text book score high in all. Really commendable achievement. I believe, using this as a guide, the history teachers could make their lessons extremely interesting and engaging.
The only thing missing are further reference materials - pointers to what to study next or to watch in order to get more information.
After a good first part that takes the student from pre-historic times to early civilizations, the rather disappointing 2nd part that talks about India in the middle ages, this part deals with the modern India - from the decline of Moghul empire, to the rise of princely states, through the British conquest, to finally the independent sovereign state.
The chapters in the section are -
1 - How, When and Where
2 - From Trade to Territory - The company establishes power
3 - Ruling the Countryside
4 - Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age
5 - When People Rebel - 1857 and after
6 - Colonialism and the City
7 - Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners
8 - Civilizing the "Native" Educating the Nation
9 - Women, Caste and Reform
10 - The Changing World of Visual Arts
11 - The Making of the National Movement
12 - India After Independence
I agree, that the sections of India's freedom struggle and Indian history post-independence, are under-represented, and also, one can always find their heroes missing in the narration, but striking a balance between too little and too much is always a difficult task for any text-book creator for a particular class of students. The narration style of story-telling, the focus on imagination and contextual evaluation, and providing the correlation between the past and present - the writers of this text book score high in all. Really commendable achievement. I believe, using this as a guide, the history teachers could make their lessons extremely interesting and engaging.
The only thing missing are further reference materials - pointers to what to study next or to watch in order to get more information.
After a good first part that takes the student from pre-historic times to early civilizations, the rather disappointing 2nd part that talks about India in the middle ages, this part deals with the modern India - from the decline of Moghul empire, to the rise of princely states, through the British conquest, to finally the independent sovereign state.
The chapters in the section are -
1 - How, When and Where
2 - From Trade to Territory - The company establishes power
3 - Ruling the Countryside
4 - Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age
5 - When People Rebel - 1857 and after
6 - Colonialism and the City
7 - Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners
8 - Civilizing the "Native" Educating the Nation
9 - Women, Caste and Reform
10 - The Changing World of Visual Arts
11 - The Making of the National Movement
12 - India After Independence
September 15, 2020
A brief 10-chapter primer starting at the early 18th century, containing events and affairs in "British" India, and very briefly a state of India after Independence.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews