The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) recently revised the political science Textbook of XII Standard. This has led to widespread uproar and heated arguments among academicians, political leaders and common public all over the country.
Parts of lessons covering certain events such as the Gujarat riots and Babri Masjid demolition have been removed from the text book. This revision exercise has mutilated the book beyond recognition. Political Scientists Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar who had originally authored the text book have raised serious objection to the revision. They have cautioned that they would be forced to take legal action if their names are not withdrawn from the new text book. They are upset by the additions, rewriting and distortion of the entire book. According to them it is sheer political bias.
The reason cited by the NCERT for this revision is that teaching about riots can create violent and depressed citizens in future. Since 2014, this is the fourth round of text book revision by the NCERT. This particular revision is severely opposed by the Minister for General Education V. Sivan Kutty in Kerala. He says actual history should be taught to students. He has added further that such revisions are against Constitutional values secularism, democracy and above all social justice. The State of Kerala has prepared new text books including the portions removed by the NCERT as its mark of protest. This could inspire other states too.
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According to the recent editorial of ‘The Times of India’, politics influencing textbooks is not something new in India. Educators must not pre-judge. Politics will be there in text books. Education should provide students with multiple narratives and let them decide on their own what is fair and foul. Let us hope there would be liberal approach to education atleast in future
