A high-level committee for social sciences, appointed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to revamp school curricula, has suggested replacing “India” with “Bharat” in textbooks for all classes.
Committee chairperson C I Isaac emphasized the historical roots of the term “Bharat,” referencing its presence in ancient texts like the Vishnu Purana, which dates back 7,000 years. While the NCERT Chairman, Dinesh Saklani, clarified that no final decisions have been made, the committee’s recommendation has garnered significant attention.
In addition to the name change, the committee proposed introducing “classical history” instead of “ancient history” and incorporating the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) into all subjects’ curricula. The committee also stressed the need to highlight “Hindu victories” in various historical battles, which they believe are underrepresented in current textbooks.
Isaac pointed out that the current historical framework, dividing Indian history into three phases – ancient, medieval, and modern – was influenced by the British and often portrayed India as lacking scientific knowledge and progress. The committee aims to rectify this by incorporating a comprehensive view of Indian history that includes the classical period alongside medieval and modern periods.
These recommendations align with the objectives outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and the NCERT has established a committee to finalize the curricula and learning materials in accordance with this policy.
