Altering the syllabi of History and Civics NCERT textbooks for Standard 12 has created both discomfort and rage among academicians and teachers who have been teaching the same for years together.
Institutions that follow a strict CBSE curriculum or regimen also follow NCERT books vehemently. Besides, the utility of these books is not merely restricted to school textbooks but is also widely accessed by government job aspirants. In such a situation it is nothing surprising to expect that the entire academic framework is going to be disrupted from what has been to date.
The notification of removing chapters relating to the Mughal empire from the history books of standard 12 has been creating a lot of buzz among academicians and critics in general. With several humanities batches from various CBSE-affiliated schools passing out learning the same, it surely created a big jolt. The moderated syllabus will be implemented from the current academic session of 2023-24 to all institutions that follow the NCERT books in their curriculum.
According to certain other media reports, NCERT will also remove certain Hindi poems from Hindi textbooks. The revision just does not end here. Two chapters from Civics in Standard 12 books namely The Cold War and American Hegemony have also been removed. Moreover, further exclusions are also being made on topics such as democracy and diversity, popular struggles and movements, and challenges to democracy.
Significant takeaways
It is quite interesting to note that these alterations are specifically being made within history and civics textbooks concerning humanities students. The stream, often still not conventionally opted by many, has its fair share of boons and setbacks. However, it comprises contents concerning the history and politics of several past governments and their rule. It has a further narrative of its own which has significant long-term implications.
CBSE always emphasizes high-order thinking skill-based or application-based questions. Removing the above-mentioned chapters from the history and civic books will hinder questions concerning the government and politics.
It can be undoubtedly inferred from the fact that the alteration of the syllabus in the NCERT textbooks is a much sought-after attempt to alter the narrative prevalent here. Mughal history in specific has a significance of its own that absolutely cannot be undermined.
Lessons on democracy and diversity provide much-needed insight into governance in a certain way that is being altered. Consequently, students cannot gain and implement holistic knowledge to reflect upon their past, present, and future.
The NEP 2020 has been criticized by several critics and academicians alike. Even if the framework of NCERT needed to be altered then more focus would have been drawn into the likes of the Chola, Pala, or Maurya dynasties keeping the Mughal part in concise part sans entirely excluding it.
Needless to say, this is one among many attempts to extend the implication of Hindutva propaganda in the sphere of education at large. Although the reaping benefits are quite far-sighted it is taking a considerable toll in the sphere of education holistically.
The humanitarian ideologies of the subject of Humanities as an academic curriculum are being significantly distorted. Thus, adequate and sufficient care ought to be initiated not to malign the facet of education as a whole.
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