New Delhi [India], December 9 (HBTV): The National Council of Educational Research and Training’s (NCERT) new Class VII Social Science textbook has introduced a chapter on India’s neighbouring countries, noting that Pakistan Army-backed terror attacks have hindered normal India–Pakistan relations. The book also highlights that efforts are underway with China to resolve disputes through trade and dialogue.
The 31-page chapter, India and Her Neighbours, expands the idea of neighbourhood beyond land borders to maritime partners, stating that the broader approach helps ‘situate India’s central and strategic place in South Asia’. This chapter is newly added to the Class VII textbook Exploring Society India and Beyond and did not feature in the previous edition.
On China, the chapter points to long civilisational ties as well as recent frictions. It describes India and China as two of Asia’s largest and most influential nations, with Buddhism serving as a strong cultural link between them. It adds that in recent years there have been phases of heightened tensions related to shared borders and conflicts, while also noting ongoing efforts to resolve disputes through trade, dialogue and border mechanisms.
A ‘Don’t Miss Out’ section mentions Hindu merchants who built temples in the Chinese port city of Quanzhou, an important trading hub in the 13th century. At the Kaiyuan temple, pillars feature carvings of Vishnu, Shiva and stories from the Ramayana and the Puranas.
On Pakistan, the chapter describes bilateral ties as among the region’s most complex, shaped by Partition and four major conflicts. It states: ‘Frequent terrorist attacks launched against India with the support of the Pakistan Army have prevented normal relations between the two countries.’ It further notes that the India–Pakistan border is ‘not just a geographical line, but also a symbol of shared heritage as well as a tragically divided history’.
The chapter also outlines the development of the Kartarpur Corridor, which enables thousands of devotees to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur. It notes that for decades, Indian pilgrims could only view the shrine from afar using binoculars at Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab, and that the corridor, first proposed in the 1990s, became operational in 2019 to mark Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary.
On Bangladesh, the book highlights a close partnership rooted in history, rivers and cultural ties. It describes the relationship as ‘enduring’ and one of India’s most important regional connections.
India–Nepal relations are presented through the lens of open borders and deep cultural links. The book notes that the arrangement allows citizens of both countries to travel freely without passports or visas, supporting movement for education, healthcare, employment and family ties.
With Bhutan, the chapter emphasises hydropower cooperation and shared Buddhist heritage, calling the relationship one marked by mutual respect, strategic cooperation and cultural affinity.
On Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the text highlights ancient cultural overlap and modern strategic cooperation, acknowledging India’s emergency assistance to the island nations during crises such as the 2004 tsunami and the 2014 water shortage in Male.
The chapter also traces India’s historical influence across Southeast Asia — including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia — through maritime trade and the spread of Buddhism, Sanskritic names and epics. It notes that these connections shaped the region’s art, literature and religion over centuries.
The concluding section states that India’s ties with its neighbours are rooted in long civilisational linkages.
(ANI)