Kerala’s Education Minister, V Sivankutty, has strongly voiced the state government’s rejection of a proposal by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to rename ‘India’ as ‘Bharat’ in school textbooks. This recommendation by an NCERT high-level committee has drawn criticism and sparked a debate about the implications of such a change.
Minister V Sivankutty emphasized that citizens have the right to use either ‘India’ or ‘Bharat,’ as stated in the constitution. He described the recommendation as a form of narrow politics, stating, “Kerala cannot accept this.” He also alleged that the BJP-led Central government is attempting to distort historical facts.
The minister revealed that previously, when NCERT had removed certain portions from textbooks, the state of Kerala had included them in the syllabus through additional textbooks. He expressed concerns about the NCERT potentially teaching children “things that are unconstitutional, unscientific, and distorted versions of history,” asserting that Kerala would resist such efforts.
Sivankutty announced that the Kerala government will convene the State Curriculum Committee to thoroughly discuss the preparation of the 44 textbooks currently used in the state, with a focus on the academic interests of students.
The NCERT’s proposal, recommended by a panel led by historian CI Issac, argues that the use of ‘India’ became common only after the establishment of the East India Company and the battle of Plassey in 1757. Issac stated that the committee has unanimously recommended the use of ‘Bharat’ in textbooks for students across classes.
The debate over this proposed change extends beyond Kerala, with voices from other states also expressing their views. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar accused the Centre of creating confusion by suggesting the shift from ‘India’ to ‘Bharat’ in various contexts, including the Republic of India, the Reserve Bank of India, and more. This move has ignited discussions about the implications of such a change and its impact on historical and national identity.
Sources by Agencies
