The committee tasked with revising the content of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has proposed a notable change in the nomenclature used in Social Science textbooks from Class 1 to 12, recommending that 'India' be officially referred to as 'Bharat.'

The proposal has been put forth by the 2022 Social Science committee, and its chairman, Prof. C.I. Issac, an esteemed historian and recipient of the Padma Shri award, has expressed the hope that this change will be incorporated into the curriculum for the upcoming academic year. However, the final decision regarding its implementation rests with the NCERT.

This proposed alteration, should it be adopted, signifies a potential shift in how the country's name is presented within educational materials and underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the use of 'India' versus 'Bharat' in the context of academic content. It reflects the evolving narrative within India's educational framework and the continued efforts to align it with cultural and linguistic considerations.

The 2022 Social Science committee has put forward this recommendation, and “we are hoping it will be implemented from next academic year, but it all depends on NCERT,” The committee's chairperson, Professor C.I. Issac, conveyed this information to indianexpress.com. Professor Issac, a distinguished historian and recipient of the Padma Shri award, provided these insights.

Furthermore, the Committee has recommended the inclusion of significant Indian victories as a prominent component of the curriculum. “Currently there is no mention of post-independence history in NCERT books, so we have suggested that historical events that took place from 1947 till now should also be introduced, and the number of hours allocated for pre-independence can be reduced,” he added.

The Committee recommends replacing 'ancient history' with 'the classical period of Indian history.' It has also agreed to incorporate additional content about the Indian Knowledge System into the curriculum to enhance the teaching of the country's accomplishments, history, and culture.

The proposed change in NCERT books follows a recent national debate that started in September. It emerged when the Union government used "President of Bharat" instead of "President of India" in invitations for a G20 dinner they hosted.

At the same time, NCERT has entered the final phase of creating new textbooks. They've established a 19-member committee, responsible for aligning school syllabuses, textbooks, and teaching materials with the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for Classes 3-12.

This committee includes distinguished individuals such as Fields Medalist Manjul Bhargava, Bibek Debroy, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Chamu Krishna Shastry, a founding member of the RSS-affiliated Samskrita Bharati, philanthropist Sudha Murty, and the renowned singer Shankar Mahadeva.

Image source: Times of India