Who Is Ruchika Sharma? The Historian Filing RTI Against NCERT Over Mughal History
Nidhi | Jul 18, 2025, 10:45 IST
( Image credit : Pexels )
Highlight of the story: Dr. Ruchika Sharma, a historian specializing in medieval India, has sparked national conversation by announcing an RTI against NCERT. She challenges the recent textbook changes on the Mughal era, questioning historical accuracy and demanding transparency. Here's a look at who she is, what she said, and why it matters.
In a country where history is not just about the past but also about identity, power, and politics, the way it is told matters. And right now, one historian is asking the questions many have been avoiding.
Dr. Ruchika Sharma, a medieval historian and public intellectual, has announced that she plans to file a Right to Information (RTI) request against NCERT over its recent textbook changes — particularly those related to Mughal history.
During a debate aired on Aaj Tak, Sharma made it clear: she is not accusing anyone without reason. But if NCERT is changing facts, removing context, or teaching students things that are not historically supported, the public has a right to know the sources being used. “Where is this written? Show me the reference. I will file an RTI to ask,” she said firmly on national television.
But she is also not a typical academic. Ruchika Sharma runs a unique YouTube channel called "Eyeshadow & Etihas", where she combines makeup tutorials with sharp, evidence-backed historical explainers. This unusual combination has made her especially popular among young women, and her channel is part of a broader effort to make serious history accessible to a wider, non-academic audience.
She argues that:
Calling the Mughal period a “dark age” is historically inaccurate and academically irresponsible. Important events like Akbar’s abolition of the jizya tax are being either misrepresented or left out. There is inconsistency in how rulers are judged — some are called tyrants, while others are glorified without balance or evidence.She is not accusing the entire textbook system of being wrong. Instead, she is asking: If you're going to teach this version of history, where is the proof?
She explained:
Akbar became emperor in 1556, at the age of 13. He abolished the jizya tax in 1562, when he was still a young ruler — far from having fully consolidated his empire. This decision is well documented in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century record of Akbar’s court compiled by Abu'l Fazl.NCERT textbooks, according to Sharma, are suggesting that Akbar only removed the jizya once he had secured power. She calls this incorrect and misleading.
She also challenged another claim — that jizya was used as a tool to pressure non-Muslims into converting to Islam.
What primary or secondary sources are being used to justify these textbook changes? Who are the historians or committees behind these decisions? Why are certain facts omitted or simplified, especially when they are central to understanding a ruler or an era?She says this is not about defending any ruler or empire, but about maintaining academic integrity in what millions of Indian students are being taught.
NCERT textbooks are used in over 20,000 schools across India, both in public and private institutions. For many students, these books are the only version of history they will ever study. So when changes are made — especially ones involving religion, rulers, and cultural identity — they shape the national narrative.
Recent textbook revisions have included:
Reducing or removing details about the Mughals and other Muslim rulers. Highlighting select Hindu rulers, often in a heroic or nationalist light. Framing Islamic policies such as jizya without full historical context.Supporters of the changes argue that Indian history has long focused too much on Islamic rulers and not enough on indigenous kings. But critics, including Sharma, warn that this correction is turning into distortion.
The exchange reveals the deeply political nature of historical interpretation in present-day India.
Ruchika Sharma's announcement to file an RTI brings attention to an important public concern: the accuracy and objectivity of educational content used by millions of students across India. Her questions reflect a wider debate over how India’s history should be presented in school curricula, especially when it comes to sensitive periods like the Mughal era.
As NCERT faces increasing scrutiny over textbook revisions, Sharma’s case highlights the growing demand for transparency in how these changes are made, what sources they rely on, and whether academic consensus is being followed.
Whether or not the RTI leads to any policy correction, it raises an important question for the broader public: how much of what is taught in classrooms today is based on evidence, and how much is shaped by the politics of the present.
Dr. Ruchika Sharma, a medieval historian and public intellectual, has announced that she plans to file a Right to Information (RTI) request against NCERT over its recent textbook changes — particularly those related to Mughal history.
During a debate aired on Aaj Tak, Sharma made it clear: she is not accusing anyone without reason. But if NCERT is changing facts, removing context, or teaching students things that are not historically supported, the public has a right to know the sources being used. “Where is this written? Show me the reference. I will file an RTI to ask,” she said firmly on national television.
Who is Ruchika Sharma?
Revisions to NCERT textbo
( Image credit : Pixabay )
But she is also not a typical academic. Ruchika Sharma runs a unique YouTube channel called "Eyeshadow & Etihas", where she combines makeup tutorials with sharp, evidence-backed historical explainers. This unusual combination has made her especially popular among young women, and her channel is part of a broader effort to make serious history accessible to a wider, non-academic audience.
What Is Her Issue With NCERT?
Book
( Image credit : Pexels )
She argues that:
Calling the Mughal period a “dark age” is historically inaccurate and academically irresponsible. Important events like Akbar’s abolition of the jizya tax are being either misrepresented or left out. There is inconsistency in how rulers are judged — some are called tyrants, while others are glorified without balance or evidence.She is not accusing the entire textbook system of being wrong. Instead, she is asking: If you're going to teach this version of history, where is the proof?
What Did She Say About Akbar and Jizya?
Akbar
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
She explained:
Akbar became emperor in 1556, at the age of 13. He abolished the jizya tax in 1562, when he was still a young ruler — far from having fully consolidated his empire. This decision is well documented in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century record of Akbar’s court compiled by Abu'l Fazl.NCERT textbooks, according to Sharma, are suggesting that Akbar only removed the jizya once he had secured power. She calls this incorrect and misleading.
She also challenged another claim — that jizya was used as a tool to pressure non-Muslims into converting to Islam.
What Will the RTI Ask?
Court
( Image credit : Pexels )
What primary or secondary sources are being used to justify these textbook changes? Who are the historians or committees behind these decisions? Why are certain facts omitted or simplified, especially when they are central to understanding a ruler or an era?She says this is not about defending any ruler or empire, but about maintaining academic integrity in what millions of Indian students are being taught.
Why Is This Concerning?
Recent textbook revisions have included:
Reducing or removing details about the Mughals and other Muslim rulers. Highlighting select Hindu rulers, often in a heroic or nationalist light. Framing Islamic policies such as jizya without full historical context.Supporters of the changes argue that Indian history has long focused too much on Islamic rulers and not enough on indigenous kings. But critics, including Sharma, warn that this correction is turning into distortion.
What Did BJP Say?
BJP's Amit Malviya calls
( Image credit : IANS )
The exchange reveals the deeply political nature of historical interpretation in present-day India.
Why Ruchika Sharma’s Voice Matters
As NCERT faces increasing scrutiny over textbook revisions, Sharma’s case highlights the growing demand for transparency in how these changes are made, what sources they rely on, and whether academic consensus is being followed.
Whether or not the RTI leads to any policy correction, it raises an important question for the broader public: how much of what is taught in classrooms today is based on evidence, and how much is shaped by the politics of the present.