New Delhi: 33 academicians who are part of the textbook development committee have written to the NCRD demanding that their names be removed from the textbooks, saying that their collective effort is in jeopardy.
In the letter written to National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) Director Dinesh Saklani, “Various revisions have been made from the original book to the present book, making the textbooks appear to be different. We feel that it is difficult to claim that they are ours and associate them with our name. We believe that constructive joint venture is at stake.
The textbooks were developed through the discussions and collaborations of political scientists from various backgrounds and ideologies. They aim to provide theoretical knowledge of Indian freedom struggle, constitution making, democratic functioning and important aspects of Indian politics along with international development and political science.
Also in the letter, Prasad Bajpai, Deputy Dean of National University of Singapore and former professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Pratap Banu Mehda, former Vice-Chancellor of Ashoka University, Rajiv Bhargava, former director of CSTS, Niraja Gopal Jayal, former professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Prof. Nivedita Menonan, Vibul Mudkal, President of Civil Society Watchdog Common Cause, currently working at Geetham University, University of Hyderabad, former professor K.C. Suri, former director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Peter Ronald D’Souza and others have signed.
Earlier, political scientists Yogendra Yadav and Sukhas Balshikar had written to the NCRD last week. It said, “Intellectual development exercises have been disabled and textbooks have been rendered unrecognizable and academically ineffective. Textbooks that once made them proud have now become a source of embarrassment.”
In this case, school level textbooks are developed based on the knowledge and understanding of the given topic. Under no circumstances can a private person claim it, NCRT said.
In the past month, the removal of various subjects and sections from the NCRT textbooks has been the subject of much controversy. The opposition parties alleged that “the BJP-led central government is deliberately changing everything”. While these changes are said to be done as part of knowledge development, there is no mention of the removal of some controversial areas, leading to the issue.
In this regard, the NCRT had explained that the deleted subjects and areas were deleted under due supervision based on the recommendation of experts. Also, it said that once the National Education Policy 2024 is launched, there will be a need to overhaul the textbooks. However, it immediately changed its stance and said there was no need to mention minor changes.