The Hindu : NCERT welcomes debate over textbook

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 11, 2002

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NCERT welcomes debate over textbook

NEW DELHI NOV. 10. Unfazed by critics crying foul over its new curriculum, the NCERT today welcomed the "debate" generated by its recent textbook on Ancient Indian History saying it was of "expected level".

Expressing satisfaction at the "generally professional nature of remarks made by scholars" about the book, the NCERT director, J.S. Rajput said the "new publication has already made an impact" by attempting to throw more light on the Aryan invasion theory, a media release said here.

"Even Prof. D.N. Jha, an esteemed scholar on ancient India, who has himself authored several books, has accepted that Aryan invasion theory is a matter of academic debate," he said adding previous authors of the book had "shied away" from mentioning the "Indian-origin" theory of Aryans.

The academic debate over the origins of Aryans had been raging for over 100 years, he said and added the chapter ought to be discussed with proper references to sources.

"Most educationists found the manner in which arguable facts were being forced down throats of young students quite objectionable. That is why the council asked scholars commissioned to do the new history books to always mention the sources of information they were including," he said.

Stating that the book had attempted to present both views with due acknowledgement to sources, he said "this is the way history is taught all over the world," the release said.

Mr. Rajput also had some harsh words for the council's critics saying they were "making futile attempts to obfuscate the issues raised.

``It would be preferable if they debate the facts published rather than fight the imagined shadows of political parties," it quoted him as saying. — PTI

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