The BJP-led NDA government has faced repeated accusations of saffronizing educational materials, with recent revisions to NCERT textbooks once again stirring controversy. These changes, implemented in classes 11 and 12 Political Science textbooks, have sparked criticism from academics, politicians, and the public alike.
One of the most significant alterations involves the replacement of references to the Babri Masjid with the term ‘three-domed structure.’ The textbooks now minimize mentions of the mosque and its demolition, instead focusing on the legal and political dispute over the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, culminating in the Supreme Court’s decision to construct the Ram Temple.
Further changes include the removal of specific references to Muslims in the description of the 2002 Gujarat riots, the omission of Nehru’s criticism of communalism, and the alteration of definitions of political terms like ‘Left’ to emphasize state control of the economy. The narrative surrounding the partition of India has also been modified, with the removal of the phrase ‘on both sides of the border’ from the account of women abducted during the event.
The revised textbooks also minimize the role of the BJP’s ‘rath yatra’ and kar sevaks in the events leading to the Babri Masjid’s demolition. Notably, the section on recent political developments has been updated to reflect the Congress and BJP’s vote shares and the implications of the Mandal Commission’s recommendations.
Several prominent figures, including Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, have condemned the alterations as an assault on India’s secular constitution. Ramesh expressed concerns over historical accuracy and ideological bias, arguing that such revisions could influence educational narratives towards a partisan agenda rather than objective learning.
Former chief advisors for political science textbooks, Suhas Palshikar and Yogendra Yadav, have threatened legal action against NCERT, expressing dismay over their names being associated with textbooks they no longer endorse. They argue that the revisions distort historical facts and undermine the academic integrity of NCERT’s educational resources.
NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani has defended the revisions, stating they were based on expert recommendations aimed at updating outdated content and aligning with current legal perspectives. Saklani emphasized the importance of maintaining educational relevance while adhering to constitutional principles, clarifying that the changes were made to streamline information and reduce academic burden, particularly in light of disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This controversy is not unprecedented. Since 2014, the BJP-led government has faced criticism for allegedly promoting a saffron agenda in educational reforms. Previous changes to textbooks have also sparked debates over historical accuracy and ideological influence, reflecting broader concerns about the politicisation of education in India.
In 2017, revisions in the NCERT book ‘Recent Developments in Indian Politics’ sparked controversy by altering the nomenclature of the Gujarat riots from ‘anti-Muslim riots’ to ‘Gujarat riots.’ This change was seen as part of a broader effort to reshape historical narratives. Additionally, contentious alterations, such as the removal of maps depicting Aksai Chin as a ‘disputed area’ and the exclusion of chapters on the Mughal Empire from syllabi, have fueled debates over ideological influences on educational content.
