NEW DELHI: The inspiring lives and sacrifices of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Brigadier Mohammad Usman, and Major Somnath Sharma have been included in NCERT textbooks from this academic year, the Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday.
The newly added chapters will appear in Class VIII (English) and Class VII and VIII (Urdu) textbooks. The objective is to familiarize students with India’s rich military legacy through stories of heroism, leadership, and national service.
Field Marshal Manekshaw, India’s first five-star general, is celebrated for his exceptional leadership during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. Brigadier Usman, who was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, laid down his life in the 1947-48 war in Jammu and Kashmir. Major Somnath Sharma, who valiantly defended Srinagar airport during the same conflict, became the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military honour.
“As part of efforts to establish the National War Memorial (NWM) as a prominent landmark of national pride, the Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and NCERT, has integrated NWM and related references into the school curriculum,” an official said.
The initiative aims not only to introduce students to pivotal moments in India’s military history but also to instill values of resilience, empathy, emotional intelligence, and a deeper understanding of nation-building.
