Chapters on war heroes Manekshaw, Usman, Somnath added to NCERT textbooks: Defence Ministry

Chapters on the life and sacrifices of the late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Brigadier Mohammad Usman, and Major Somnath Sharma have been added to the syllabus in the current academic year for Class 8 (Urdu), Class 7 (Urdu), and Class 8 (English), respectively, by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Thursday (August 7, 2025).

The newly introduced chapters aim to provide students with inspirational narratives on courage and duty. Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, India’s first officer to be conferred the rank of Field Marshal, is remembered for his exceptional leadership and strategic acumen. Brigadier Mohammad Usman and Major Somnath Sharma, posthumous recipients of the Mahavir Chakra and Param Vir Chakra, laid down their lives in service of the nation and remain symbols of supreme sacrifice, the MoD said.

As part of the efforts to establish the National War Memorial as a prominent national landmark, the MoD has partnered with the Union Ministry of Education, and the NCERT to integrate the memorial, and references related to it, into the school curriculum, the Defence Ministry said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the National War Memorial to the nation on February 25, 2019. Located at the iconic Central Vista ‘C’ Hexagon, India Gate, New Delhi, the memorial was established to inculcate a sense of patriotism, high moral values, sacrifice, national spirit, and belongingness among all citizens, while serving as a tribute to brave soldiers who died for the country.

Through these stories and their inclusion into the curriculum, students would not only gain insights into India’s military history, but also absorb important life lessons on resilience, empathy, emotional intelligence, and the importance of contributing to nation-building, the MoD said.