New Delhi:

The political row over proposal to refer to India as “Bharat” in NCERT textbooks snowballing, the man behind the proposal told NDTV today that it was only meant for students of CBSE and in classrooms. “At home they can say whatever,” retired Professor CI Issacs told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

Mr Issacs is heading the Committee for Social Sciences, which made the recommendation that has stirred up a hornet’s nest. Amid Opposition attack, NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) has said no decision has been taken regarding the recommendations, made in response to move to revise the curriculum in line with the National Education Policy 2020.  

Along with replacing the name “India” with “Bharat” in textbooks, the panel has also suggested introducing “classical history”, instead of “ancient history” and including “Indian Knowledge System” in the syllabus.

Asked why this change is needed at this point, Professor Issacs said they were not “removing” anything.   

“Our mindset is toned by colonial education. Now it is a new education system. New chapter. Something new is needed, nothing traditional,” he said, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for an update in the country’s education policy.  

Calling the change “essential”, he said it has the backing of a number of academicians who were not part of the committee.

Asked if the move does not open another Pandora’s box of opposition charges about politicization of education, Mr Issacs said, “We never think about election.  None of my team are involved in politics. Five are ladies. Housewives”.

On why this had to be included in textbooks, he said it was for the teachers.  

“Of course teachers will say India,” he said, pointing out that they were also products of colonial education, like himself, who also says India. The change, he said, can be effected in the textbooks of senior classes, starting from Class 8.  

India and Bharat are names mentioned in the very first article of the Constitution. Asked why, in that case, it could not be left to individual choice, he said the rule is applicable only to CBSE students.   

The Opposition has called the proposal an effort to “indoctrinate an entire generation”.  

Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Manoj Jha has called it a “panic reaction to INDIA bloc”. “Article 1 of the Constitution says “India that is Bharat”. The people who framed it, Babasaheb Ambedkar. Nehru, Azad, Patel – they thought something?” he said. Then holding up a copy of the Constitution, he said, “Will this be the next target?”

“This is anti-people, anti-India. This is completely wrong. I appeal to government. You can’t change the history of India,” said Congress’s DK Shivakumar.  

The Bharat-India controversy had started when the government sent out G20 invites in the name of “President of Bharat” instead of “President of India”. Later, the nameplate of PM Modi during the G20 summit in New Delhi also read “Bharat”, instead of India.

CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

The ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has said that Kerala would reject the National Council for Educational Research and Training’s (NCERT) proposal to supplant India with Bharat in the social sciences curriculum for schools.

CPI(M) State Secretary M. V. Govindan told reporters in New Delhi that schools following the State syllabus would resist the NCERT’s move to inject “science, fact and history-denying Sangh Parivar rendition of India’s past into younger generations.

“Kerala school textbooks will cite the country’s name as India as articulated in Article I of the Constitution. They will dwell on subjects abandoned by the Sangh Parivar-led Central government, including Darwin’s theory of evolution, the Mughal empire, and the life, times and assassination of Mahatma Gandhi”, Mr. Govindan said.

Mr. Govindan said the formation of the anti-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) was the immediate provocation for the BJP’s move to supplant India with Bharat in school textbooks, official communication and public fora.

He said the Centre had suspiciously flip-flopped on its recent commitment to the Supreme Court that no circumstance warranted changing India’s official name to Bharat.

The CPI(M) and Congress in Kerala also found themselves on the same side of the India-Bharat debate.

On Wednesday, Congress Working Committee (CWC) member K.C. Venugopal objected to rejecting India for Bharat in school textbooks.

“For Congress, both names carry equal weight. However, one should not be at the cost of the other. The BJP is attempting to distort India’s history to suit its political ends”, he said.

The CPI(M) has also found a common cause with the Congress and the DMK governments in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Both administrations have objected to the NCERT proposal. (Education is a subject in the concurrent list, allowing States to accept or reject NCERT proposals.)

C. I. Isaac, a retired history teacher and Padma Shri awardee who heads the NCERT panel for curriculum change, told a news channel in Dubai that it had not rejected the name India.

“Instead, the panel has proposed to make it statutory to teach Bharath in school curriculum. It is to instil self-respect in students and not to compel them to stop using the term India when referring to the country. The panel has also proposed displaying a framed copy of the constitution preamble in classrooms prominently”, Mr. Isaac said.

Meanwhile, the BJP in Kerala has encouraged the use of Bharat because it was “an emphatic rejection of the country’s colonial past”. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had recently urged citizens to use Bharat instead of India.

New Delhi:

The Ministry of Education on Wednesday clarified ‘mixing science with mythology’ on Chandrayaan 3 Special Modules and said that the NCERT has meticulously crafted ten special modules on Chandrayaan-3 which offer a comprehensive overview of various facets of this mission, encompassing scientific, technological, cultural, and social aspects.

It clarified that in light of the rapid advancements and notable milestones achieved at the national level, it becomes imperative to equip our teachers and students with knowledge that transcends traditional textbooks.

This endeavour aims to instill a profound sense of pride in our country and its accomplishments. To achieve this, it is essential to extend our curricular materials beyond textbooks, presenting the nation’s achievements in a manner that is both accessible and captivating for our educational community, added the Ministry of Education press release.

“One such monumental achievement is the successful landing of Bharat’s Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon on 23rd August 2023. Recognizing the significance of acquainting the 26 crore students in our school education system with this remarkable space initiative of India, NCERT has taken a proactive step in this direction,” it added.

Ministry further said that with the aspiration to integrate significant achievements into the curriculum, NCERT has developed pedagogically enriched curricular resources spanning a wide range of themes. 

These themes include Nari Shakti Vandan (Women’s Empowerment), COVID management, Sustainability, Bharat – the mother of democracy, National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the success of Chandrayaan-3, etc.

“The initial theme chosen for the development of these special modules is Chandrayaan-3. NCERT has meticulously crafted ten special modules on Chandrayaan-3. Additionally, they delve into the emotional journey and team spirit of the scientists involved” it added.

Ministry said in a statement that the content within these modules has been thoughtfully designed to be interactive and engaging. It includes graphics, photographs, illustrations, activities, challenging questions, and more. These modules cater to students across the stages of school education, spanning from grades 1 to 12.

Importantly, they have been created with a mindful approach towards the relevance of themes for different stages. The modules feature stories, cases, quiz questions, and activities, all designed to motivate self-paced learning among students and encourage teachers to guide their students through the suggested pedagogy of experiential learning.

“In this endeavour, NCERT has taken specific steps to acknowledge the significant role played by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) scientists. They have been duly credited and recognized in these modules on Chandrayaan-3. The contributions of renowned scientists such as Dr Vikram Sarabhai, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Dr S Somnath, Dr K Sivan, Nandini Harinath and many others have been highlighted in different modules at different stages” Education Ministry said.

Additionally, it is essential to emphasize the commitment of the Hon’ble Prime Minister towards space achievements. Recognizing the Prime Minister’s unwavering support and encouragement to our scientists can inspire students and motivate them to take an interest in science and technology.

The integration of these significant achievements and the recognition of the collaborative efforts of scientists, engineers, and political leaders, including the Prime Minister, reflect the strength and progress of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant Bharat). This vision, coupled with the revision in the Space policy, has propelled the country towards self-reliance in the field of space exploration.

Mythology and philosophy put forward ideas and ideas lead to innovation and research. Numerous research studies emphasize that mythology plays an indispensable role in the cultural fabric of any country, including Bharat. 

Furthermore, the integration of culture into education not only fosters a profound understanding of a nation’s historical legacy but also bolsters creativity and problem-solving skills among students. It’s the whole gestalt of India’s association with sky and space.

These modules accessible on the NCERT website, have been launched by the Hon’ble Education Minister in the presence of the Chairman of ISRO. They are made available to students, teachers, and parents with the aim of fostering widespread appreciation and understanding of this historic event.

Through this initiative, NCERT seeks to not only promote scientific temper but also instill a sense of pride, inspiration, and an understanding of our country’s achievements among the educational community and the public at large.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)