Embarrassed: Suhas Palshikar, Yogendra Yadav Demand Removal of Their Names as NCERT Textbook Advisors

In a remarkable move, distinguished academics Suhas Palshikar and Yogendra Yadav have taken a stand against the recent alterations made to National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks.

Palshikar and Yadav, who were chief advisors for the original Political Science books for classes 9 to 12, have expressed their embarrassment and said the textbooks were "mutilated beyond recognition".

In an official letter addressed to NCERT Director Dinesh Saklani, the duo expressed their disappointment, stating that the modifications have rendered the books academically dysfunctional and mutilated beyond recognition. They said the lack of pedagogic rationale behind the extensive deletions and irrational cuts, which have not been adequately compensated for.

Furthermore, Palshikar and Yadav said that they were neither consulted nor informed about these changes. In the letter, they explicitly disagreed with the decisions made by other experts, should NCERT have sought their advice.

Palshikar, an esteemed academician and political scientist, alongside Yadav, a renowned political scientist and leader of Swaraj India, served as chief advisors for the Political Science books originally published in 2006-07, based on the 2005 version of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). Their names were prominently featured in the "letter to students" and the list of textbook development team members at the beginning of each book.

The letter stressed the importance of maintaining the internal logic and coherence of the textbooks, highlighting that the arbitrary cuts and deletions violated the essence of the text. Palshikar and Yadav condemned the partisan manner in which the textbooks were shaped, asserting that they should not hinder the spirit of critical thinking and questioning among students of social sciences. The current state of the textbooks fails to serve the purpose of imparting essential political science principles and understanding the broad patterns of political dynamics over time, as outlined in the letter.

The recent controversy surrounding the removal of several topics and portions from NCERT textbooks triggered widespread debate, with opposition parties accusing the government of engaging in "whitewashing." The controversy arose due to the fact that while the changes made through the rationalisation exercise were duly notified, certain controversial deletions were not mentioned, leading to allegations of surreptitious removal.

The NCERT initially defended the omissions as possible oversights but declined to reverse the deletions, citing expert recommendations. The council also stated that the textbooks would undergo revision in 2024 with the implementation of the National Curriculum Framework. However, the NCERT later altered its stance, asserting that "minor changes need not be notified."

Among the controversial deletions were references in the Class 12 History textbook to Mahatma Gandhi's pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity that "provoked Hindu extremists" and the ban on the RSS. Additionally, portions referring to the Gujarat riots were removed from the Class 11 Sociology textbook, following the previous elimination of references to the 2002 communal violence in two Class 12 textbooks.