The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in India is set to make a significant change in its textbooks, as suggested by the 2022 Social Science committee. This committee, headed by the renowned historian and Padma Shri awardee Prof C.I. Issac (Retd), recommends replacing the term ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ in all textbooks. This change is scheduled to be implemented in the upcoming academic year.
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The move comes on the
heels of a national debate that began in September when the Union government referred to the “President of Bharat” rather than “President of India” in invites for a G20 dinner. It signifies a shift in official nomenclature and an attempt to embrace the country’s historical and cultural identity more prominently.
Simultaneously, NCERT has embarked on the final phase of developing new textbooks by
forming a 19-member committee. This committee is tasked with aligning the school syllabus, textbooks, and teaching materials with the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for students in Classes 3-12.
The committee members include distinguished individuals from various fields, such as fields medallist Manjul Bhargava, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister Bibek Debroy, Chamu Krishna Shastry, a founding member of the RSS-affiliated Samskrita Bharati, philanthropist Sudha Murty, and the renowned singer
Shankar Mahadevan.
Personal Opinion:
The decision to replace ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ in NCERT textbooks reflects India’s effort to highlight its cultural and historical roots. It’s crucial to implement this change thoughtfully to instill cultural pride without compromising historical accuracy. The inclusion of experts in
the decision-making process is a positive move, ensuring a balanced approach to education that respects tradition while
acknowledging the contemporary world.