NCERT defends use of Indian names for English textbooks
Amid criticism from southern states over assigning Hindi names to English-medium textbooks, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has defended the move, saying the titles are inspired by Indian musical instruments such as the santoor, mridang, tabla and veena, as well as classical ragas like ‘Poorvi’, to instil a sense of Indian identity in students.
In an official statement, NCERT said, “The new NCERT textbooks have been thoughtfully named to convey rootedness in India’s culture and knowledge systems. The names of the books are from Indian languages and not specifically Hindi.”
The council added that using Indian names for mathematics or English language textbooks not only promotes pride in Indian languages and culture but also sparks curiosity about the country’s rich cultural and scientific heritage.
The English textbook for Classes 1 and 2 is titled ‘Mridang’, derived from ‘mridangam’, a widely recognised percussion instrument associated with Carnatic music. The Class 7 English textbook is titled ‘Poorvi’, named after a raga traditionally sung at dusk.
Previously, the Class 6 mathematics textbook was titled ‘Mathematics’ in English, ‘Ganit’ in Hindi and ‘Riyazi’ in Urdu. Under the new framework, both English and Hindi versions are titled ‘Ganita Prakash’.
“In a similar vein, the mathematics textbook titled ‘Ganita Prakash’ draws from India’s rich mathematical heritage. The title has been chosen to attract the curiosity of children about the country’s legacy in mathematics,” NCERT said.
Last week, Kerala Minister for General Education and Employment V Sivankutty criticised NCERT’s decision, accusing the Centre of “cultural imposition” and “sabotaging the linguistic diversity of the country”.
