- ‘Bharat’ carries historical and cultural significance: Shivansh Bhan from Bengaluru bats for name change
- The panel, headed by an RSS sympathiser, recommended that equal space be given in the history syllabus to all dynasties that ruled India, adding that new discoveries must be included
NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, BENGALURU, OCT 28
A high-level committee set up by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to revise the social sciences curriculum for schools has recommended that the country’s name, ‘India’, be replaced in school textbooks with the word ‘Bharat’, triggering outrage among Opposition politicians. Clarifying that the panel’s recommendations have not been approved yet, the NCERT said that it was “too premature” to comment on the issue.
The panel is headed by C.I. Issac, a retired history professor who has been closely associated with Sangh Parivar institutions for several decades. He told journalists on Wednesday that the panel had unanimously recommended, in its report submitted to NCERT earlier this year, that the country’s name should be referred to as ‘Bharat’ and not ‘India’ in all school textbooks, from the primary to high-school level.
“Our failures are presently mentioned in the textbooks. But our victories over the Mughals and sultans are not,” said Isaac, who is also a member of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR).
Other members of the committee include ICHR Chairperson Raghuvendra Tanwar, Vandana Mishra, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Vasant Shinde, former vice-chancellor of the Deccan College Deemed University, and Mamta Yadav, who teaches sociology in a Haryana government school.
The NCERT is revising the curriculum of the school textbooks in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The council recently constituted a 19-member National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC) to finalise the curriculum, textbooks and learning material for these classes.
Reacting to this report, Shivansh Bhan from Bengaluru said, “The proposal to replace ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ in school textbooks deserves thoughtful consideration. Language shapes identity, and while ‘Bharat’ carries historical and cultural significance, it’s important to maintain a balance between tradition and modernity. While it’s crucial to honour our rich history, the decision should be made carefully, taking into account the diverse linguistic and cultural landscape of our nation. A broader discussion is essential before such a change can be considered, ensuring that it truly reflects the values and aspirations of modern India.”
