Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, addressed the ongoing controversies in India’s education sector — including the perceived bias in NCERT textbooks and recurring allegations of the BJP promoting the saffronisation of academics.
ON NCERT ‘S HISTORICAL STANCE
The debate around NCERT textbooks is not a new one. It existed even during Irani’s tenure as Union Minister for Education (then Human Resource Development). When asked whether the BJP is deliberately portraying Mughal rulers, particularly Emperor Akbar, as cruel to offend the Muslim community, Irani responded: “There is a regulated body that develops the NCERT curriculum based on the education policies already in place. Once the framework is laid out, NCERT consults a group of subject-matter experts to draft the chapters.”
However, she added that it would be a grave injustice to history if textbooks only showcased the positives of a ruler like Akbar. “His rule was replete with both good and bad instances. If you wish to only talk about the good and ignore the controversies, that is not fair.”
Irani stressed that the intent is not to bias students, but to equip them with the full picture. “Curriculum cannot be devoid of historical facts; you cannot, in some way, embellish the curriculum for your own political taste.”
THE AKBAR-BABAR-ASHOKA CONUNDRUM
As the interview progressed, Irani was also questioned about the long-standing criticism that the BJP is using NCERT revisions to saffronise education.
“The last time I checked, none of the Mughal rulers are members of any political party, nor are they representatives of any government organisation,” she said. “People say let bygones be bygones, but one should learn to accept the truth about the past — whether good or bad.”
When asked if the BJP intentionally downplays the alleged atrocities of rulers like Ashoka while spotlighting those of the Mughals such as Babar, Aurangzeb, or Akbar, Irani replied: “I don’t think any facts about King Ashoka have been hidden, at least not in any history book I’ve read. But again, I say this — I am not a historian. The people who have done so on the basis of evidence, and these experts can definitely keep their side.”
– Ends