The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has officially launched a new Hindi textbook for Class 9 titled ‘Ganga’ as part of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The textbook is designed to symbolise the river Ganga’s role in Indian civilisation, representing the continuous flow and widespread reach of the Hindi language across India. It features a diverse mix of content including Raidas’ Pad, ‘Ram-Lakshman-Parshuram-Samvad’, ‘Bharati Jai Vijayi Kare’, and ‘Jhansi Ki Rani’, combining language instruction with devotional, nationalist, and literary texts.
The book states in Hindi, “Like the river Ganga, Hindi is also an identity of our civilisation and culture. Hindi is spoken, understood, and read across a large part of India.” It seeks to balance devotional and nationalist themes alongside linguistic learning.
Works such as Raidas’s Pad highlight themes of equality and devotion, while ‘Ram-Lakshman-Parshuram Samvad’ from the Ramcharitmanas reflects cultural values. Patriotic poems by Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ and Subhadra Kumari Chauhan exemplify nationalist spirit and valour. Bhawani Prasad Mishra’s ‘Ghar Ki Yaad’ explores emotional and familial bonds.
The textbook emphasises India’s freedom struggle and national heroes, including a life sketch of Jhalkari Bai, a participant in the 1857 uprising, and a lesson on Param Vir Chakra awardee Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, who died at 26 defending the nation.
Regarding Sekhon, the book notes: “Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, the son of Sardar Trilok Singh Sekhon and a housewife, was born on July 17, 1945. His village, Isewal, is located near Ludhiana in Punjab, close to the Halwara Air Force Station. Perhaps for this reason, he was drawn to aircraft from childhood. He was especially fond of stories about the famous warrior Hari Singh Nalwa from the early 19th century. Not only this, he was greatly influenced by his father as well, who had served in the Indian Air Force.”
The textbook also features thoughts of Lala Lajpat Rai on citizens’ rights and duties, quoting his speech at the Indian National Congress session in Surat on December 20, 1920: “The basis of freedom is also self-discipline. Our ancestors have written in books that discipline is essential. Freedom becomes beneficial only when there is discipline behind it. If there is no discipline, then freedom cannot last long. Therefore, if we want to enjoy freedom, we must follow discipline and self-control. Do not do anything that causes inconvenience or trouble to others. Only then can we truly understand the value of freedom.”
‘Ganga’ aims not only to enhance students’ linguistic abilities but to connect them with India’s social and cultural heritage. The textbook includes both prose and poetry from prominent writers.
The prose section contains Munshi Premchand’s ‘Do Bailon Ki Katha’, Padumlal Punnalal Bakshi’s ‘Kya Likhoon?’, and Shekhar Joshi’s ‘Samvadheen’, addressing themes such as human values, creativity, and modern emotional challenges. It also includes an interview titled ‘Aisi Bhi Baatein Hoti Hain’ with Lata Mangeshkar, Mohan Rakesh’s travelogue ‘Aakhri Chattan Tak’, and Jagdish Chandra Mathur’s ‘Reedh Ki Haddi’, which question orthodox perspectives on marriage and women’s education.
The curriculum is further enriched with poems by Saint Namdev, works of Maithili Sharan Gupt, and activities emphasising the significance of the mother tongue.
NCERT is rolling out new textbooks for Class 9 for the academic year 2026-27 under the new curriculum framework (NCF 2023 / NEP 2020). While textbooks for Classes 1 to 8 have already been introduced, Class 9 books are being released in phases according to the new guidelines.
