Big Change: NCERT books to have ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’
NCERT has accepted a proposal to replace the name “India” with “Bharat” in all of its school textbooks.
NCERT has accepted a proposal to replace the name "India" with "Bharat" in all of its school textbooks. (File Image)
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has accepted a proposal to replace the name “India” with “Bharat” in all of its school textbooks. The proposal was made by a committee of experts and was unanimously approved by the NCERT governing body.
The new name will be used in all new editions of NCERT textbooks, starting from the academic year 2024-2025. It will also be used in all NCERT digital resources, such as its website and e-books. The committee of experts that made the proposal said that the name “Bharat” is more inclusive and representative of the country’s diversity. They also said that the name “India” is a colonial construct and does not reflect the country’s ancient heritage.
The proposal to change the name of the country in NCERT textbooks has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have welcomed the move, saying that it is a step towards decolonizing the education system. Others have criticized the move, saying that it is a waste of time and money.
The government has also expressed its support for the move. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the change in name is a step towards promoting India’s cultural heritage.
This discussion gained momentum earlier this year when G20 dinner invitations, hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, bore the title “President of Bharat” rather than “President of India”, leading to a political controversy. According to Article 1(1) of the Constitution, the official name of our country is “India, that is Bharat shall be a Union of States”. In September, during his address at the G20 Leaders Summit at the Bharat Mandapam in Delhi’s Pragati Maidan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nameplate displayed ‘Bharat’.
The change in name of the country in NCERT textbooks is likely to have a significant impact on the way that Indian history and culture is taught in schools. It is also likely to have a significant impact on the way that students identify with their country.
Overall, the change in name of the country in NCERT textbooks is a move that is likely to have an impact on the way that Indian history and culture is taught in schools. It remains to be seen how the change will be implemented and what the long-term implications will be.
Furthermore, the experts committee advocates for the integration of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) into the curriculum across all subjects.
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