EDUCATION - 2004 - Indian Social Institute

ing in fresh appointees. Meanwhile, several academics within the council alleged that the
inquiry was a witch-hunt aimed at harassing outgoing NCERT director J.S. Rajput, who was
accused of being close to former HRD minister M.M. Joshi. Rajput is accused of having
implemented Joshi's saffron agenda when he ordered a complete revamp of the NCERT's
national curriculum framework and textbooks under this syllabus. Scheduled to retire in July, he
was not offered an extension. (Hindustan Times 22.6.04)
23 rd June
NCERT panel set to make saffron books history (11)
New Delhi: The three-member panel, constituted by the HRD ministry to review "saffron" history
school books, met for the first time on Tuesday to hammer out "detoxification" options. The panel
suggestions ranged from omission of "obvious objectionable" portions to looking at an open book
market. The Left also pumped up pressure demanding withdrawal of existing textbooks, with historian
Man Habib suggesting that fresh editions of older textbooks (by R S Sharma, Bipin
Chandra, Satish Chandra and Arjun Dev) be immediately circulated among students. Prof S
Settar, one of the three panelists, said reverting to old books was difficult as they had not been
updated for a long time. "It would be going back to other extreme because these books are nearly
40 years old." As per the HRD ministry's brief, the panelists discussed the option of omitting
objectionable passages from the existirig textbooks and providing alternative material to teachers.
But they conceded that this approach may also be difficult as it would be impossible to ensure
that teachers follow the panel's instruction and the child does not read controversial passages.
There are six books written during Murli Manohar Joshi's tenure, which are in question. The panel
meeting which will continue for another two days will do an extensive review of these books
Settar said the search for alternative material for history textbooks was underway. "We've to
examine how deeply textbooks have been affected and whether any prejudices have been
projected. Charges and countercharges cannot be brushed aside easily," he said. (Times of India
23.6.04)
Controversial text may be withdrawn (11)
New Delhi, June 22: The three-member panel set up by the HRD ministry to review the
controversial history text books are looking at ways to replace "objectionable portions, distortions
and factual errors with historical facts." The historians were also considering withdrawing the
controversial NCERT text books during the next academic session. The historians given charge
by the HRD minister, Mr Arjun Singh, to "desaffronise" the textbooks are Prof S. Settar, a visiting
professor, at the Bangalore based National Institute of Advances Studies and distinguished
historian of ancient India, Prof Barun De, an expert on Modern India and Prof J.S. Grewal, former
vice-chancellor of Gurur Nanak university. The historians, who reached Delhi on Tuesday
morning had discussions over the textbooks throughout the day. The meeting of the historians
would continue for a couple of days, before they come to any conclusion. However, there is no
deadline set by the government as yet to come to a conclusion. The panel members also met the
additional secretary, Mr Sudip Banerjee in Tuesday morning to discs the issue. Since withdrawal
of text books, "might not be possible at this academic session," the members were looking at the
possibility of removing the "saffronised version and factual errors." (Asian Age 23.6.04)
24 th June
Scrap history textbooks: Students (11)
NEW DELHI, JUNE 23. Protesting against "communal flavour" in the NCERT textbooks, a large
number of students today demanded scrapping of the present history textbooks and even
submitted a memorandum - signed by hundreds of students from across the country - to the
NCERT textbook review committee now meeting here in the Capital. A delegation of students
from Youth for Peace met the former Director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies at
Shimla, J.S. Grewal - a member of the textbook review committee - to submit the memorandum.
"History gives you a sense of identity and perspective. Students tend to imbibe whatever their
textbooks say. But if students start imbibing this at a young age, then it will be difficult to change
their perspective. The committee must scrap these books because not even one more batch of
students should be subjected to this," said Moyna Manku, a student of History at Delhi's Gargi