Indian History: Yet to be surfaced!

When going through Indian history, one will find that a major chunk of the history of the Hindu rulers has been overshadowed by historians. Although the history of Indian Hindu rulers is so vast and spans several centuries, many dynasties and kingdoms of various regions are encompassed. Hereby, we’ll like to highlight a few dynasties and kingdoms that played significant roles in shaping India we see today. Not much is possible to elaborate on all the Empires and Kingdoms but yes few can be highlighted here.

Maurya Empire: Established by the Great Chandragupta Maurya happened to be the largest and most powerful empire in the history of India. Ashoka, the grandson of the former King, is particularly renowned for his change of heart and conversion to "Buddhism" after a fierce battle when he witnessed millions of dead, handicapped, and struggling for survival. Further, he played a major role in spreading the teachings and preaching of Buddhism throughout the entire world.

Gupta Empire: The Gupta Empire is often considered the "Golden Age" of India. Under the rule of Emperor Samudragupta and his successors, the empire witnessed significant progress in art, science, literature, and philosophy.

Chola Empire: The Chola dynasty, particularly under the reign of Rajaraja Chola and his son Rajendra Chola, was a prominent Hindu dynasty that dominated South India and had an extensive maritime trade network.

Vijayanagara Empire: The Vijayanagara Empire, founded by Harihara I and Bukka Raya I, emerged as a major power in South India. The empire reached its peak under the rule of Krishnadevaraya and made significant contributions to art, architecture, and literature.

Likewise, many dynasties and kingdoms like the Maratha Empire, Mewar Empire, Vijaynagar, and the Sikh Kingdom, leaving aside those small kingdoms and kings who were never given any importance for their roles in shaping India, are yet struggling to find their deserving space in the texts of Indian history.

 There can be a number of reasons why the ancient history of Indian Hindu rulers is not taught in mainstream education. Worth mentioning factors can be:

 Colonial legacy: The British Raj, which ruled India from 1858 to 1947, had a profound impact on the country's education system. The British curriculum focused on European history and culture and marginalized the study of real Indian history. This legacy continues to this day, with many Indian schools still teaching a Eurocentric curriculum.

Religious bias: Some people believe that teaching about Hindu rulers would promote Hindu nationalism. This is a sensitive issue in India, where there is a long history of conflict between Hindus and Muslims. Some people worry that teaching about Hindu rulers would make it more difficult to maintain peace between the two communities. Also post-Independence, the "appeasement" policies adopted by almost every political party in the name of "secularism" side-lined the real history and converted these kingdoms and empires into mysterious elements.

Lack of resources: There are a number of resources available to teach about the ancient history of India, but they are not always accessible to all schools. Many schools in rural areas do not have the resources to teach about Indian history, and teachers in these schools may not be trained in Indian history.

Despite these challenges, there are a number of efforts underway to increase the teaching of Indian history in schools. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), which is responsible for developing the curriculum for Indian schools, has recently revised its textbooks to include more content on Indian history. Additionally, a number of non-profit organizations are working to develop educational materials on Indian history that are accessible to all schools.

It is important to teach about the ancient history of Indian Hindu rulers for a number of reasons. First, it is part of India's rich and diverse heritage. Second, it can help students understand the development of Indian society and culture. Third, it can help students appreciate the contributions of Hindu rulers to Indian civilization. Finally, it can help students develop a sense of pride in their Indian heritage.