NCERT's new Class 9 textbook highlights anecdotes of lesser-known women rulers in Indian history

New Class 9 Social Science textbook prepared by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) highlights lesser-known accounts of women rulers and regional resistance movements in Indian history, including Queen Naiki Devi of the Chaulukya kingdom and Rani Abbakka Chowta of Ullal.

Titled Understanding Society: India and Beyond-Part 2, the textbook was released on Tuesday, six months after the new academic session began. It follows the first part, which was released in June this year.

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A chapter titled ‘Resistance and Resilience’ documents successive invasions of the Indian subcontinent since the seventh century and records resistance by several Indian rulers and kingdoms.

Queen Naiki Devi is credited in the textbook with defeating Muhammad Ghori at Kasahrada near Mount Abu in 1178. The chapter also discusses the resistance offered by the Hindu Shahi rulers, Chandellas, Solankis and Chauhans to Turkish invaders.

Rani Abbakka Chowta, who ruled Ullal in present-day Karnataka from 1525 to 1570, is mentioned for successfully repelling Portuguese naval forces. Queen Rudrama Devi of the Kakatiya dynasty is also featured for her resistance to the Delhi Sultanate.

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The textbook also records lesser-known episodes of resistance. Muthu Virappa Nayak of Madurai, for instance, is described as having refused to bow to a ceremonial slipper sent by the Mughal court. Instead, he is believed to have placed his own foot inside it.

The book also highlights the history of Gingee, or Senji, Fort in Tamil Nadu. The fort was successively held by the Vijayanagara Nayakas, Bijapuri Sultans, Mughals, Marathas, French and English. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025.

The new textbook is part of NCERT's broader inclusion of women leaders in Social Science and History textbooks.

Earlier this year, the Class 8 textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Part 1 featured women leaders in discussions on leadership, governance and resistance movements.

Among them was Rani Durgavati, who is presented as a ruler associated with courage, leadership and administrative capability in the Garha/Gond kingdom.

The textbook also featured Tarabai and Ahilyabai Holkar under the theme ‘The Mighty Maratha Women’.