Textbook case

There are misgivings about the United Progressive Alliance8217;s agenda on 8220;de-toxifying8221; education. What does the project really amount to? A simple overturning of the NDA government8217;s policy? A neat flip, which takes us back to the history textbooks of old? There is concern, as there must be, at the possibility of Murli Manohar Joshi8217;s fiefdom being replaced by Arjun Singh8217;s. Joshi8217;s mischiefs and ideological prejudices 8212; and there were so many 8212; may well be weeded out by the zealous team drafted by Singh. But who will then delete the prejudices they revert to, or introduce?

Going by early indications, there may be reason to hope. As this newspaper has reported, the three-member team of historians appointed to review the existing texts seems to be taking a broader view of its mandate. Professors S. Settar, J.S. Grewal and Barun De have not obliged cheerleaders from the Left by instantly scrapping the 8220;saffronised8221; texts and bringing back the old ones. They are set to search for 8220;alternative8221; texts, and in doing so, they will hopefully explore wider territories than they might have been asked to. After the immediate problem of the ongoing academic session is sorted out, they may even take up the challenge to make a difference in the long term. It is time the government withered away from the business of textbook writing and the NCERT is forced to redefine its role. More autonomy must be institutionalised for professionals in the field. Textbook writing, history writing, must be insulated from political regime change.

Messrs Settar, De and Grewal would have done their job if they can also turn the spotlight on another issue, one that has received scarce attention in the lurching debate so far. Textbooks of history, as well as other subjects, are nearly always unimaginative and dull. Then and now, they are taught with the same lack of innovation and interest. New ways of writing and teaching must be thought of to draw the child into the process of knowledge and enthuse her. Textbooks are not just the colour saffron or red/pink. There are good textbooks and there are bad textbooks.