Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Brigadier Usman added to NCERT books

NEW DELHI: Chapters on the lives and sacrifices of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and top gallantry award winners Brigadier Mohammad Usman and Major Somnath Sharma have been added to the NCERT syllabus this academic year, defence ministry said on Thursday.The newly-introduced chapters, in Class VIII (Urdu), Class VII (Urdu) and Class VIII (English) respectively, aim to provide students with inspirational narratives of courage and duty. Manekshaw, the country's first five-star general, is remembered for his "exceptional leadership and strategic acumen", especially during the 1971 war. Brigadier Usman, posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, was martyred during the 1947-48 conflict in J&K, while Major Sharma became the first recipient of Param Vir Chakra for his heroic defence of Srinagar airport in 1947."As part of efforts to establish National War Memorial (NWM) as a prominent national landmark, defence ministry partnered with education ministry and NCERT to integrate NWM and related references into the school curriculum," an official said."Through these stories and their inclusion in the curriculum, students will 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 official added.