Class 8 · Social Science · New NCERT
Chapter 9 (Part 2, Chapter 2): India's Long Road to Independence
Chapter 9 (Part 2, Chapter 2 in the printed book). On this site the chapters of both parts are numbered continuously.
"India's Long Road to Independence" is the longest chapter of the book, at about fifty pages, in Theme B. Students are likely to follow the freedom struggle from early resistance to the movements led by many leaders, through to independence, using timelines, maps, quotations and images. It follows the Part 1 chapter on the colonial era. A preceding "Looking back and forward" section bridges the earlier history. The chapter encourages students to appreciate many strands of the struggle, including less-known figures, and to think about what freedom means today.
This is chapter 9 (Part 2, Chapter 2) of 15 in Exploring Society: India and Beyond, the Class 8 Social Science textbook, in the Tapestry of the Past section, and begins on page 35 of Part 2 of the printed 2026-27 book. It follows "World Geography: Some Glimpses" and is followed by "A Journey Through Indian Architecture".
Social Science in this book starts from the child's own surroundings and moves outwards. With "India's Long Road to Independence", students are invited to observe, question and discuss rather than memorise: maps, images, side boxes and activities are all part of the learning. Open questions encourage them to look for evidence and think about more than one view, and the text keeps to the big ideas so there is time for reflection.
A good follow-up to "India's Long Road to Independence" is to connect it with something local: a place, a person, a custom or a news item. Ask the child to bring one new fact or question to class. Discussing different points of view politely is part of the learning.
This overview is written from the 2026-27 textbook's Contents page, its preface and the chapter title, to help families and teachers prepare. Please read the chapter itself for exact content, activities and exercises.