NCERT and the Politics of Language in English Textbooks
Navneet Sharma and Sushant Kishore | 05 May 2025 | The Tribune
THE NCERT has ignited controversy by replacing the titles of English textbooks like 'Honeysuckle' with Hindi titles such as 'Poorvi’, 'Mridang' and 'Santoor' for Classes VI, VII and VIII. Government officials defend these names, claiming they transcend language and draw from India's artistic traditions. 'Poorvi' (meaning eastern), they note, is not simply a Hindi word but a raga in Hindustani classical music, symbolising the harmony of an eastern dawn.
Defenders of the NCERT's move invoke the Shakespearean adage, "What's in a name?" It suggests that these titular changes are inconsequential. This argument, however, contains a glaring logical fallacy. If, indeed, there is "nothing in a name", why insist on replacing perfectly functional English titles with Hindi ones? The selective application of this principle betrays its disingenuousness. Would the same defender embrace naming Sanskrit textbooks 'Twinkle' or Hindi textbooks 'Harmony'? The ensuing discomfort and resistance would reveal the fallacy of their position. Names carry significant cultural weight and symbolic meaning — a fact the NCERT recognises when imposing Hindi nomenclature but conveniently overlooks when justifying it. The content of these textbooks has been revised to feature more Indian contexts. Moving away from western-centric materials —think 'Rain, Rain, Go Away' as a nursery rhyme far removed from India's monsoonal realities — the books now incorporate multiple genres intended to reflect students' lived experiences within the Indian social, cultural and geographical landscapes…