The new NCERT Class 9 Social Science textbook explores India’s traditions of governance through references to the Sengol, Gandhi’s Ram Rajya and the Mahabharata
NEW DELHI: What do the Sengol, Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of Ram Rajya and a motto from the Mahabharata have in common? A new Class 9 Social Science textbook by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) brings these references together while explaining the idea of good governance in India. The textbook, Understanding Society: India and Beyond Part 2, discusses these topics in the chapter ‘Governance and Public Policy’. The chapter looks at how ideas from India’s history and cultural traditions can be understood alongside concepts such as justice, public welfare and responsible governance.
The Sengol is one of the key examples mentioned in the chapter. It is a ceremonial sceptre linked to the Chola tradition and is presented in the textbook in the context of authority and good governance. The chapter traces the tradition of the Sengol to more than a thousand years ago. It also mentions its association with the transfer of power in 1947, when Jawaharlal Nehru received it from Adheenam saints from Tamil Nadu.
The Sengol came into public attention again in 2023 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed it in the new Parliament building. The textbook uses the Sengol to explain that holding power also comes with responsibility. In this context, the symbol is discussed not just as a historical object but also as a reminder of the values expected from those in authority. However, there has been public debate over the Sengol’s exact role in the 1947 transfer of power. Its traditional meaning and the circumstances of its presentation to Nehru are separate historical questions that need to be examined carefully.
For Class 9 students, the discussion also shows that governance is not a new idea. Questions of justice, responsibility and the duties of rulers have been discussed in Indian traditions for centuries.
The textbook also talks about Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of Ram Rajya. It explains the concept through values such as honesty, justice, compassion and the welfare of people. Gandhi’s idea was not simply about establishing a religious form of government. It was also about creating a society where people received justice and those in power worked for the common good. By including Ram Rajya in the chapter, the textbook connects Gandhi’s ideas with the broader discussion on responsible and people-oriented governance.
The chapter also refers to the Supreme Court’s motto, ‘Yato Dharmastato Jayah’, meaning ‘Where there is righteousness, there is victory’. The phrase comes from the Mahabharata. It also mentions India’s national motto, ‘Satyameva Jayate’, which comes from the Mundaka Upanishad. These examples show students how ideas and phrases from India’s ancient texts continue to appear in the symbols and traditions of modern institutions.
The chapter does not stop at historical and cultural references. It also explains key ideas linked to modern governance, including accountability, transparency, public participation, inclusion and the rule of law. It discusses public policy as well as initiatives such as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The chapter also places these ideas alongside the framework of the Indian Constitution. In a modern democracy, governance is guided by constitutional values, the rule of law, rights and duties, and institutions that are accountable to citizens.
The larger message is that good governance is not only about having authority. It also means being responsible, fair and working for public welfare.
The references also create a link between different periods of Indian history. While the Sengol represents an older tradition associated with authority, today’s governance works through elected governments, constitutional institutions and laws. The textbook uses these different examples to discuss how the idea of responsible governance has evolved over time.
The broader purpose of the chapter is to encourage students to look at governance through different lenses of history, culture, constitutional values and public policy. By bringing these references into one discussion, NCERT aims to introduce students to the idea that governance is not only about institutions and laws, but also about the values and responsibilities that shape their functioning.
