The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) revised multiple Textbooks for Classes 10-12. Following this, a few prominent chapters of all the boards including CBSE, UP, and other state boards which follow NCERT will be changed.
This includes the removal or revision of chapters from:
1. Class 12 History ‘Themes in Indian History-Part II’ no longer includes chapters on ‘Kings and Chronicles; the Mughal Courts (C. 16th and 17th centuries)’.
2. Class 12 Civics book, two chapters (‘American Hegemony in World Politics’ and ‘The Cold War Era’) has been removed.
3. Class 12 Polity, The ‘Indian Politics after Independence’ has removed the two chapters ‘Rise of Popular Movements’ and ‘Era of One Party Dominance’.
4. Class 11 textbook ‘Themes in World History’ no longer includes chapters like ‘Central Islamic Lands’, ‘Clash of Cultures’, and ‘Industrial Revolution’.
5. Class 10, ‘The ‘Democratic Politics-II’ textbook has undergone changes, including the removal of chapters on ‘Democracy and Diversity’, ‘Popular Struggles and Movements’, and ‘Challenges of Democracy’.
But even after these significant changes, the Class 10 History book, “India & the Contemporary World-II” has shocking misinformation.
Especially, in Chapter 2 “Nationalism in India“, Page 43 where it defines the term “Sanatanis” as “Conservative High Caste Hindus”.
And more wisely if Sanskrit’s meaning is referred to then it simply means “people who follow the eternal path of humanity“.
Thus, nowhere does there exist any acceptable definition as mentioned in this NCERT.
Also, the word “Caste” is a British Construct, as the Hindu Varna system never divides society on the basis of ascription but only on merit & achievements; as in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Shloka 41,
” ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परन्तप |
कर्माणि प्रविभक्तानि स्वभावप्रभवैर्गुणै: || “
Translation: The duties of the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras—are distributed according to their qualities, in accordance with their guṇas (and not by birth).
Hence, we do appreciate Central Government’s current action on rectifying our NCERTs but as noted above this obnoxious definition of “Sanatanis” needs to be revised so that Bharat’s children don’t get further misguided by this disinformation written in Class X history Ncert. We must remember that Bharat’s existence begins from the survival of the Sanatanis which includes every breathing human on this soil.
This article was first published in janpeace.com
