The ‘rationalisation’ of NCERT books has sparked a heated debate about its very rationale
The NCERT’s exercise to rationalise its text books has led to the deletion of references including passages on the theory of evolution, references to the Cold War, the Mughal courts, and industrial revolution, the 2002 Gujarat riots, the contribution of agriculture to the Indian economy, and a section on challenges to democracy. The changes were made during a syllabus rationalisation exercise carried out by the council to reduce the burden on students given the Covid-19 pandemic. For the record, the pandemic is officially over. Now, Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar, whose names were mentioned in the NCERT textbooks of political science as chief advisors, have urged NCERT to drop their names as they feel textbooks have been "mutilated beyond recognition". Taking a cue from the duo, 33 more academics have asked the NCERT to take their names off the revised textbooks. Meanwhile, more than 100 academicians have alleged that their counterparts who wanted their names to be dropped from the textbooks were trying to capture media attention, and seem to have forgotten that textbooks are an outcome of collective intellectual engagement. They maintain that the school curriculum has not been updated for nearly two decades.
In recent years, concerns have been raised regarding the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attempting to rewrite the history and curriculum of India. The RSS has been accused of pursuing a revisionist agenda aimed at shaping the narrative of India's past and moulding the education system to align with their ideological views. Allegedly, they have sought to modify textbooks to present a version of history that emphasises Hindu nationalist perspectives and downplaying the contributions of minority communities. This has led to heated debates, as many argue that such revisions undermine academic integrity and promote a narrow understanding of the country's diverse history. The BJP and RSS advocate for a concept known as "cultural nationalism," which seeks to promote a homogenous understanding of Indian culture based on Hindu traditions and values. This emphasis on cultural nationalism is distorting the inclusive and pluralistic fabric of India's society. They have attempted to reinterpret certain historical events and figures to fit their ideological framework. This includes attempts to rewrite the narrative surrounding India's independence movement, downplay the role of certain freedom fighters, and selectively highlight aspects that align with their ideological agenda. Critics argue that this revisionism undermines the nuanced understanding of history and hinders the development of critical thinking skills among students. The curriculum changes have raised serious concerns about the politicisation of education and the distortion of historical narratives. It is crucial to have an inclusive education and and a nuanced understanding of the past to have a vibrant democracy.