NCERT calls parts of Gandhi, Godse, Gujarat riot minor deletions, which need not be notified

New Delhi: Deletions that are minor in nature, are part of regular review activity and are not necessary to be notified, was the reply the NCERT uploaded on its website in regard to the deletion of certain parts on Mahatma Gandhi and his killer Nathuram Godse, the role of Hindu extremists, and the 2002 Gujarat riots.

A week ago, The Indian Express flagged the removal of certain parts of lessons from the NCERT's textbook. The statement read that the pointed-out parts had not been in the notified lists of deletions made last year, as they were minor deletions that did not need to be notified.

“Details of rationalisation for each book were also uploaded on the website along with the textbook in PDF form while the rationalized textbooks were in printing. However, it may be noted that reprinting of textbooks taking care of suggestions of stakeholders is a regular process which takes place every year,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the NCERT council stated that it stands by its claim that no content has been removed or deleted following the academic rationalization carried out in the 2022-2023 academic year. The reasons given by NCERT for the deletions include content that is "overlapping," "not relevant or outdated in the present context," "difficult," or content that is easily accessible to children and can be learned through self-learning or peer learning.

The NCERT had enlisted the help of 25 external experts, including faculty members from Delhi University, ICHR, Kendriya Vidyalayas, and private schools, to carry out the process of rationalization.

However, the deletion of certain content from NCERT textbooks has been questioned by opposition parties and noted scholars. For instance, the removal of a line from the class 12 political science textbook, which states that Gandhi was disliked by those who wanted India to become a country for the Hindus, has been criticized.

Additionally, several lines that highlight Gandhi's steadfast pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity and the positive impact of his death on communal relations in the country, as well as the government's crackdown on organizations promoting communal hatred, have been deleted.