Letter to NCERT from 33 academicians, says "collective creative effort in jeopardy" asks to drop their names out of Textbook

• Image Credit: wikipedia

• Jun 16, 2023 | Poonam Nath

The Textbook Development Committee's 33 academicians wrote to the council, stating that their...

Digital Desk: 33 academicians who are a part of the Textbook Development Committee have written to the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) expressing concern that their "collective creative effort is in jeopardy" This comes just a few days after political scientists Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar requested that their names be removed from textbooks.

It should be noted that in a letter to NCERT last week, Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar stated that a rationalisation exercise has "mutilated" the books beyond recognition and rendered them "academically dysfunctional," and that textbooks that were once a source of pride for them have now become a "source of embarrassment."

Furthermore, the 33 academicians have asked for their names to be "dropped" from the textbooks.

Also read:  NEET Result 2023: NEET UG results are out now

The academicians wrote in their letter, "Since there are multiple substantive alterations of the original texts, making them consequently different volumes, we find it impossible to assert that these are the books we produced and to identify our names with them... We are now led to believe that this collaborative creative effort is in peril."

It went on to say, "The textbooks were the result of extensive deliberations and collaborations among political scientists from various perspectives and ideological backgrounds, and were originally intended to impart knowledge about India's freedom struggle, the constitutional framework, the functioning of democracy, and key aspects of Indian politics, while also integrating global developments and theoretical principles of political science."

However, the NCERT stated that withdrawing from any relationship is not possible due to textbooks being generated based on knowledge and comprehension of a subject. 

Last month, the opposition accused the Centre of "whitewashing with vengeance" by removing topics from NCERT textbooks.

Notably, those who signed the letter sent to NCERT Director Dinesh Saklani have been identified as a former JNU professor now serving as a vice dean at the (National University, Singapore), Pratap Bhanu Mehta (former vice-chancellor of the Ashoka University), Rajeev Bhargava (former director of CSDS), Niraja Gopal Jayal (former JNU professor), Nivedita Menon (JNU professor), Vipul Mudgal (Head of civil society watchdog Common Cause), KC Suri (former professor at the University of Hyderabad, now associated with the Gitam University), and Peter Ronald deSouza (a former director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies).

While the adjustments made as part of the rationalisation exercise have been made known, some of the disputed deletions were not mentioned. This sparked claims of a hidden attempt to erase these sections.

Meanwhile, the NCERT regarded the deletions as a probable oversight but refused to investigate the errors. They were stated to be based on professional suggestions.

NCERT also stated that the textbooks would be revised in 2024 when the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) is anticipated to take effect. Later, it reversed its position, stating that "minor changes do not require reporting."