New Delhi: The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has recently revamped the syllabus of Class 12 political science, making significant changes that have sparked debate. Notably, contentious topics such as Hindutva politics, the 2002 Gujarat riots, minorities, and the Babri Masjid have been removed.
The decision, aimed at aligning the syllabus with current political scenarios, has led to the removal of sensitive narratives. Particularly, references to the Ayodhya demolition, Babri Masjid, and Hindutva politics have been restructured to present a sanitized version of historical events.
Reportedly, the chapter titled "What is the legacy of Ram Janambhoomi movement and the Ayodhya demolition for the nature of political mobilisation?" has been altered to "What is the legacy of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement?" Furthermore, mentions of Babri Masjid and Hindutva politics have been expunged from the textbook.
Previously, a paragraph stated, "Fourth, a number of events culminated in the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya (known as Babri Masjid) in December 1992. This event symbolised and triggered various changes in the politics of the country and intensified debates about the nature of Indian nationalism and secularism. These developments are associated with the rise of the BJP and the politics of ‘Hindutva’," as quoted by Hindustan Times.
Now, it has been revised to, "Fourth, the centuries-old legal and political dispute over the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya started influencing the politics of India, which gave birth to various political changes. The Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Movement, becoming the central issue, transformed the direction of the discourse on secularism and democracy. These changes culminated in the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya following the decision of the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court (which was announced on November 9, 2019)."