NCERT modifies textbook for class 12th, omits references to “Babri Masjid”

The revision of the class 12 Political Science textbook by India’s National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has led to notable changes. The term ‘Babri Masjid’ is no longer present in the updated versions now circulating in bookstores. Instead, the structure is described as a “three-domed structure” that was razed by a crowd on December 6, 1992. The location in Ayodhya is currently the site of the magnificent Ram Mandir, which was opened to the public earlier this year. The section discussing the Ayodhya conflict between Hindu and Muslim communities has been abridged from four pages to just two in the latest edition. NCERT modifies textbook content, reflecting these significant alterations.

Omissions in the new edition include mentions of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) pilgrimage from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya, subsequent communal clashes following the demolition, imposition of President’s rule in BJP-governed states, and the BJP’s expression of regret regarding the events at Ayodhya.

The revised edition primarily emphasizes the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict that facilitated a resolution to the dispute and awarded the contested land to Hindus.

Amidst these alterations, speculation has arisen about NCERT’s intentions, with some suggesting that there is an effort to infuse educational materials with a particular ideological hue. However, NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani has robustly refuted such claims.

Saklani has asserted that all modifications are grounded in “evidences and facts,” stating that such updates are commonplace worldwide and serve educational interests.

In a dialogue with PTI, Saklani questioned the necessity of educating students about conflicts, arguing that school textbooks should not aim to produce despondent or aggressive individuals. He emphasized that historical education should be factual rather than contentious.

He further remarked to PTI that themes of animosity and aggression have no place in school education and should not be central to academic texts.

Saklani underscored that irrelevant content must be excised from educational materials. He also mentioned that the recent updates were recommended by an expert panel, not by his sole direction.

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