"Education Minister Pradhan Clarifies: 'No Difference Between India and Bharat' Amid NCERT Textbook Controversy"

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the use of the terms 'Bharat' and 'India' in the context of the nation. Minister Pradhan firmly stated that there is no substantial difference between the terms 'Bharat' and 'India,' emphasizing that both names are recognized within the Indian Constitution. He further explained that any perceived differences are primarily in the minds of a few "frustrated people" who are attempting to dispute the concept of 'Bharat.'

 

This statement from Minister Pradhan followed a recommendation made by a panel responsible for revising the NCERT social science textbooks. The panel had proposed replacing 'India' with 'Bharat' in all social science textbooks up to Class 12, a move that had sparked sharp criticism from the political opposition.

 

Minister Pradhan, while inaugurating the western zone vice chancellors' conference on the implementation of NEP 2020 in Gujarat's Kevadiya, Narmada district, underlined that both 'Bharat' and 'India' have been explicitly mentioned in the Indian Constitution. He described the ongoing controversy as "mindless" and attributed it to individuals seeking to create unnecessary disturbances.

 

Furthermore, he shed light on the historical context, explaining that during the colonial period, the name 'India' was derived from English literature, while in the Indian Constitution, significance has been given to both 'Bharat' and 'India.' Minister Pradhan emphasized that 'Bharat' is the original Indian name, rooted in the nation's history and civilization.

 

Minister Pradhan also touched on the importance of local languages, stating that they have never hindered the nation's development and that all languages in India are considered national languages. He discussed the significance of technology in overcoming language barriers and highlighted the priority of skill development.

 

The seven-member panel responsible for revising the textbooks had not only recommended changing 'India' to 'Bharat' but also proposed introducing 'classical history' instead of 'ancient history' in the curriculum and including the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) in the syllabus for all subjects. Additionally, the committee recommended the highlighting of 'Hindu victories' in textbooks.

 

In response to the ongoing debate, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) issued a statement, clarifying that the curriculum development process is ongoing, and various Curricular Area Groups of domain experts are actively engaged in this process. As such, it was deemed premature to comment on the issue as reported in the media.