Mumbai: Revisions to textbooks get mixed reviews

As part of its “rationalization” process, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) eliminated a chapter on the periodic table and Darwin’s theory of evolution from Standard X Science textbooks last year. This year, the NCERT is implementing more adjustments to school textbooks. Textbooks for grades XI and XII do not include the destruction of the Babri Mosque or the riots in Gujarat. Reactions to the revisions have been divided among educationists.

What modifications have been made?

The chapter on Democratic Rights in Chapter 5 omitted a mention to the Gujarat riots from the description of a news collage. “Many cases of human rights violations in diverse fields, for instance, Gujarat riots, are being brought to public notice from across India,” was the original version that was changed to read, “Many cases of human rights violations in diverse fields are being brought to the public’s attention from across India.”

The NCERT rewrote a paragraph in Chapter 7 of the Political Science textbook for Class XII to include the repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir unique status. “While most states have equal powers, some states, like J&K and the states in the Northeast, have special provisions,” the preceding paragraph said. “However, Article 370, which contains special provisions for J&K, was abrogated in August 2019” is a new line added to the updated version.

“What is the legacy of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the Ayodhya demolition for the nature of political mobilization?” is the question posed in Chapter 8. has been changed to “What is the Ram Janmabhoomi movement’s legacy?” The NCERT curriculum design committee documented these modifications in detail with the goal of bringing subject references into line with current political events.

The line “More than 1,000 persons, mostly Muslims, were massacred during the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat in 2002” has been changed to “More than 1,000 persons were killed during the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat in 2002” in Chapter 8, Secularism, of the Std XI textbook. This modification is based on the idea that no one community bears exclusive responsibility for the suffering caused by a riot, since it affects individuals from all groups.

The phrase “Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK)” has been used in place of “Azad Pakistan,” and a line characterizing the Left as those who prefer “state regulation over free competition” has also been modified. NCERT representatives refused to comment on the subjects being deleted, claiming that the changes are just regular updates unrelated to the creation of new books for the New Curriculum Framework.

What professionals say

“These changes align with the Union government’s purported endeavour to saffronise academics and the education system,” a senior teacher from a junior college in south Mumbai said. Only CBSE schools utilize NCERT texts. However, this is just the start. Education campaigner Manesh Kanojia said, “They have just altered the manner in which it was previously mentioned.” Furthermore, I haven’t entirely eliminated the references. This generation knows AI and technology well. I don’t believe this is a big deal since they can perform research and look up anything on the internet. More pressing problems include a shortage of instructors, student dropout rates, the quality of education provided in schools, etc.

Political analyst and scholar Deepak Pawar criticized the amendments, saying they were insufficient and incorrect and that a thorough understanding of history was necessary, taking into account a variety of viewpoints.

Thus, it is insufficient and inappropriate for a textbook to include events like the Ram Janmabhoomi, much alone the destruction of the Babri Masjid. Similarly, the NCERT should include the movements in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh that support statehood over Union territory status if they entail the repeal of Article 370. Parallel elements are essential to provide a comprehensive grasp of the subject. This is especially important since NCERT textbooks are seen as models by the public and other educational boards because of the pedagogical strategies they use.

“It is important to bring up the Delhi riots of 1984, the Mumbai riots of 1992–1993, and the Godhra riots of 2002 while talking about human rights breaches and communal violence in the nation. Completing the picture of the nation’s communalization requires the inclusion of all these events. Presenting many stories in a responsible manner is crucial. The integrity of the narrative is compromised if certain subjects and allusions are purposefully left out without taking these things into account, according to Pawar.

Researcher Sanjay Patil, who specializes in urban politics and elections and is situated in Mumbai, stated: “This appears to be a continuation of the saffronization movement that we have been witnessing in academia, especially in the past few years.” The government is enabling political meddling in academia and the educational system by eliminating certain important references that are negative of a particular party or regime. This would set a poor precedent for a democracy like India as well as be harmful to future generations who may not be aware of certain aspects of the past that has been erased.