A new Class IX Hindi textbook unveiled by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) today celebrates the life and times of three heroes from Punjab — Param Vir Chakra awardee Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, Punjab Kesari Lala Lajpat Rai and playwright Mohan Rakesh.The book finalised by the apex school curriculum drafting body has a dedicated section on the valour of Indian soldiers and heroes, including Sekhon, the first and only officer of the Indian Air Force to be awarded the PVC.Remembered as an enduring symbol of bravery and commitment to national defence, Sekhon was born in Ludhiana’s Isewal village.During the 1971 war, he engaged six Pakistani Sabre jets over the Srinagar airfield on December 14, 1971, shooting down two enemy aircraft before being fatally hit.The textbook, titled “Ganga”, notes that Sekhon’s village is located close to the Halwara Air Force Station, which may have sparked his early fascination with aviation. It highlights his admiration for Hari Singh Nalwa, the then Commander-in-Chief of the Sikh Khalsa Fauj, the army of the Sikh Empire, as well as the influence of his father, who served in the Indian Air Force.The new book aims to strike a balance between devotional and nationalist themes while maintaining a strong focus on linguistic development. It replaces the earlier textbooks that went by the names ‘Kshitij’ and ‘Kritika’.Among the notable new inclusions is a speech delivered by Lala Lajpat Rai at a session of the Indian National Congress in Surat. Rai had famously declared at the time, “The basis of freedom is also self-discipline. Our ancestors have written in books that discipline is essential.”The textbook also features an interview with legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar. Literary works by noted figures have found a place in the new book. These figures include Amritsar-born writer-playwright Mohan Rakesh, known for the Nai Kahani movement and Khurja-born Jagdish Chandra Mathur. The textbook further addresses themes like travel, social norms and women’s education.Key poetic and literary additions include Raidas’ Pad, Ram-Lakshman-Parshuram Samvad from Ramcharitmanas and patriotic compositions such as Bharati Jai Vijayi Kare by Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ and Jhansi Ki Rani by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan.The prose section features Munshi Premchand’s Do Bailon Ki Katha, Padumlal Punnalal Bakshi’s Kya Likhoon and Shekhar Joshi’s Samvadheen, all reflecting themes of human values and creativity. The book also includes Sahitya Akademi Award-winning poet Bhawani Prasad Mishra’s poem ‘Ghar ki Yaad’.Additional contributions from poets such as Saint Namdev and Maithili Sharan Gupt are included, alongside activities designed to promote the importance of the mother tongue.While revised textbooks aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 have already been introduced for Classes I to VIII, the Class IX textbooks will be released in a phased manner.