Tuesday , December 24 2024

Delhi: 'India' can be used interchangeably in textbooks, debate futile: NCERT

NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani said that like the Constitution of the country, 'Bharat' and 'India' will be used interchangeably in NCERT textbooks too, any discussion on this issue is meaningless.

A high-level committee working on the social science curriculum has recommended the use of the word 'Bharat' instead of 'India' in school textbooks for all classes after debating the issue. The NCERT chief revealed in a conversation with the editor of the news agency that both the words will be used in the textbooks. We have no objection to the use of the word 'Bharat' or 'India'.

Recommendation to write Bharat instead of India in all standard textbooks

Saklani said that it is appropriate to use both the words interchangeably. Our view is also to do what our Constitution says and we support it. We can use the word Bharat and we can also use the word India. What is the problem in this? We do not want to get into a debate on this issue. We will use the word India wherever we think it is appropriate and we will use the word Bharat wherever we think it is appropriate. We have no problem with India or Bharat. You can see that both the words are already being used in our textbooks.

The same will be done in the new textbooks. There is no point in any discussion on this issue. Last year, a high level committee on social sciences constituted by NCERT to reform the school curriculum recommended writing Bharat in place of Bharat in all standard textbooks.

Suggestion to include Indian knowledge system in the syllabus of all subjects

Committee chairman CI Ishak, who heads the panel, said they have suggested adding the name Bharat in place of Bharat in textbooks, inclusion of classical history instead of ancient history in the syllabus, and inclusion of Indian Knowledge System (IKS) in the syllabus of all subjects.