Delhi history in schools must go beyond the Mughals, says Rekha Gupta
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday questioned why the capital’s history taught in schools had largely focused on the Mughal period, arguing that students should also learn about its links to the Mahabharata, the Marathas and the Sikh Gurus.
Speaking at the launch of Heritage Clubs in 75 CM SHRI government schools, Gupta said Delhi’s history could not be confined to one period.
“Our children were taught about the Mughal period. Delhi meant just the Mughal period. Did anyone tell the children that the Marathas too were here and that the history of the Sikh Gurus is connected to the city?” she said.
Gupta claimed that several chapters of Delhi’s history had not adequately reached students and said the new clubs would expose them to the capital’s wider cultural heritage.
The Chief Minister said what she called a “slavery mindset” was changing under PM Modi.
She cited the construction of the new Parliament building, the installation of a statue of Subhas Chandra Bose near India Gate and the renaming of the Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan as Amrit Udyan.
Gupta also referred to the former naming of a prominent road in Lutyens’ Delhi after Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
“Why was there an Aurangzeb Road? He is the one who destroyed the nation and this city. His name was there on a road sign, and nobody thought about it,” she said.
Aurangzeb Road was renamed Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road in 2015.
Gupta said students needed to understand different historical figures and events instead of learning about the city through a limited account of its past.
“Now, schoolchildren will be taught about the cultural heritage of the city to make them understand its history,” she said.WHAT HERITAGE CLUBS WILL DO
Under the scheme, students in 75 CM SHRI schools will receive hands-on exposure to Delhi’s history, art and culture.
“Through the Heritage Clubs, students will get an opportunity to go beyond reading about the history and heritage of their city in books and instead see, understand and experience it first-hand,” Gupta said.
The clubs will organise heritage walks, visits to historical sites and museums, guided tours of archives and libraries, quizzes, exhibitions, poster and painting competitions, and activities involving replicas of monuments.
“There are several chapters of history that have not yet reached children adequately. The Heritage Clubs will allow students to learn about, understand and reflect on these chapters,” she said.
The Delhi government’s Art, Culture and Language Department and the Delhi Archives will conduct the activities.
Education Minister Ashish Sood, Art, Culture and Language Minister Kapil Mishra, senior officials and principals of CM SHRI schools attended the launch.- EndsPublished By: Aprameya RaoPublished On: Sep 18, 2026 22:07 IST
