NCERT removes Babri Masjid references from textbooks, chief says teaching about riots will create violent and depressed individuals

NNEW : NCERT director Dinesh Prasad Saklani said that teaching about riots will not have a positive effect on citizens and will create violent and depressed individuals. His response was regarding the changes in chapters based on Gujarat riots and Babri Masjid demolition from Class 12 textbook.

"Why should we teach about riots in school textbooks? We want to create positive citizens not violent and depressed individuals," he said.

When said that there is not the same level of outcry regarding the absence of the 1984 riots from textbooks, Saklani said, "Should we teach our students in a manner that they become offensive, create hatred in society or become victim of hatred? Is that education's purpose? Should we teach about riots to such young children ... when they grow up, they can learn about it but why school textbooks."

Responding to the allegation that the curriculum and textbooks were being saffronized, he said that the outdated ones should be changed and it is not saffronization.

"If something has lost relevance, it should be updated. Why shouldn't it? I don't see any agenda here. Our goal in teaching history is to educate students with factual information, not to turn it into a contentious issue. If we are telling about Indian Knowledge System, how can it be saffronisation? If we are telling about iron pillar in Mehrauli and saying Indians were way ahead of any metallurigical scientist, are we saying wrong? How can it be saffronisation?", he added.

Changes in the book:

□ In the Class 12 political science textbook, sections related to Babri Masjid were omitted and the Ayodhya section was reduced from four to two pages.

□ BJP's 'Ratha Yatra' from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya, intervention of 'Karsevakars', communal riots following demolition of Babri Masjid, imposition of President's rule in BJP-ruled states, BJP's statement expressing regret over the events in Ayodhya etc. were omitted.