In ordering the deletion of certain cartoons and words from a number of social and political science school textbooks, the committee constituted by the National Council for Educational Research and Training appears to have followed the line of least resistance. First the two cartoons that have generated political controversies were promptly sent to the trash tray; and then, many, many more. With a mandate to review the textbooks and identify educationally inappropriate material, the panel headed by S.K. Thorat was expected to take a detailed look at all visual material with the help of subject experts. But the number of cartoons erased and the flimsy and even bizarre reasons given mark the whole exercise as politically coloured from beginning to end. Many of the changes seem to have been recommended with the interest of the political and bureaucratic classes in mind, and not on pedagogic grounds. Some cartoons are to be removed because they convey a “negative message” about politicians and bureaucrats, others because they are politically “sensitive”. A few cartoons were seen as too “ambiguous.” Surely, these cannot be grounds for exclusion while preparing instruction material to develop critical thinking among students in Classes XI and XII. Indeed, going by the suggested deletions, the “politically sensitive” argument looks tailor-made to ensure the removal of cartoons seen as causing offence to the Nehru-Gandhi family.
As the dissenting member of the committee M.S.S. Pandian sagely notes, what is perceived as “politically incorrect” need not be “educationally inappropriate” for students being initiated into critical thinking. The National Curriculum Framework from which the current textbooks sprang broke new ground precisely because they sought to encourage young learners to ask questions for which there may not be a single correct answer. True, the authors of the textbook may have gone overboard here and there; a sensible, nuanced review could have easily set things right. But the deletions now being ordered defy all reason and commonsense. For example, an American cartoon in which the Republican and Democratic parties are shown as an elephant and donkey is to be dropped because “politicians and institutions are represented as animals.” This despite the fact that the two animals are party mascots! Agreed, there is nothing sacrosanct about the textbooks and the cartoons they carry. Other cartoons and other textbooks could have served the pedagogic purpose just as well. But inclusion and exclusion of material in textbooks cannot be carried out, as the Thorat committee has done, keeping in mind narrowly defined political sensitivities and imaginary community sensibilities. It will be a matter of national shame if its recommended deletions are accepted by the NCERT.
Keywords: NCERT textbooks, cartoon controversy
The text book Panel's order to delete cartoons from books is
nothing short of an assault on the freedom of expression.Pictures and
cartoons in books have a role to play.They not only add to the content
of the books,but make a lasting impact on the readers.Cartoons give us
a comic relief and whet our sense of humour.For example R.K Laxman's
cartoon showing a beggar holding out a garlanded Indira Gandhi would
make us appreciate the reaction of the poor to Indira's famous
slogan,'Garheebi hatawah'.Once during a royal procession in London a
poor man from a ghetto held out a banner to the king which showed the
words,"Lousy but loyal".The king liked the banner and realized his
duty towards the poor.The present order once again confirms the view
that we do not have a sense of homour and we are intolerant of
criticism. Soon a day will come when another panel may pass an order
asking all newspapers to desist from publishing news about politicians
and bureaucrats.
Any information conveyed is never without personal bias. History
is always conveyed by a historian in the way he perceived.
Distortions in history compelled students to study the point of
view expressed in the selected text; not necessarily the correct
viewpoint and some of them even downright vicious lies; British
period in the Indian political History penned by the English is a
typical example. Subjects other than Science are opinions and
theories that are not necessarily universal and therefore subject
to distortion. Therefore, even sans ‘cartoons' students are not
allowed to learn in an unbiased environment. Noting this
deficiency the present curricula with the introduction of
innovative and interactive interventions like cartoons and
debates, give the students opportunity to participate and reason
out to draw their own inferences. The NCERT aims at developing
the young minds to inquire and search for various interpretations
instead of accepting a biased and dogmatic viewpoint.
They do want to leave their finger print on every walk of life. Washing the dishes will not save us from infection, their hands have to be clean also to make a sound society.
Democracy is being put to shame by such prescribed omission acts by the
committee in the books which are meant to teach students the core values
of democracy. It will absolutely be a national shame if the largest
democracy in this world allows curtailment of freedom of speech and
expression to pursue political interests of a selected few.
Education is supposed to encourage, inspire to learn, and enlighten the young to become
curious, open minded, creative, critical, confident, informed, and be the leaders of tomorrow.
By resorting to measures as these, those in positions of power are creating masses that are
ignorant, close minded, diffident, conservative, resistant to change, and unable to lead, but
only follow their dictats and directions. Followers of masses will be cultivated in a land where
the growing challenges of the future need new ideas, and new forms of leadership, which
such inhibiting education, as that being created here, compels the young mind to conform to
the affirmed views of those already in power perpetuating their hold on political, intellectual
and psychological power. Man is born free, but is enslaved by inferior education, and the
mind manacled and imprisoned by an enslaved society, never attempting to be truly free.
The problem is simple here - the rights to criticise is being revoked! A student in the territory of India should not even consider that the politicians are criticisable! This attitude is a big problem!
People must be allowed to have a plurality of ideas and opinions and
then let them make up their own minds. They must be allowed to speak,
write and publish whatever they opine in their better judgement.
Freedom of expression is the most basic, and so fundamental, right...
a substratum, on which all human race would grow and flourish. Minus
it, human beings would be reduced to automatons. This is the last
thing, any progressive person would want it to be like.
The ongoing controversy over cartoons of whose credibility, the educators and students only can reveal the truth. Ithink it would be a great idea if The Hindu tries to conduct a sample survey in various schools attracting the views of students and teacher can help determine the weights of the cartoons. Besides our country is going through a tough situation and need a rdicl shift in pedagogic techniques. The undue political interference of politics is most undesirable.Government shouldn't have reacted in a frenzy as it did. The example of Thorat deleting elephant and donkey cartoon is ludicrous. Hope government is able to see through n maintain the sanctity of education.
Thomas Emerson has summed the American Law which rings a bell even
in the Indian system :
"The values and functions of the freedom of expression in a
democratic polity are obvious. Freedom of expression is essentially
as a means of assuring individual self-fulfilment. The proper end of
man is the realisation of his character and potentialities as a
human being. For the achievement of this self-realisation the mind
must be free.
Again...
Freedom of expression is an essential process for advancing
knowledge and discovering truth. So also for participation in
decision-making in a democratic society. Indeed free expression
furthers stability in the community by reasoning together instead of
battling against each other. Such being the value and function of
free speech, what are the dynamics of limitation which will fit
these values and functions without retarding social goals or
injuring social interest?"
Where else can we begin to apply such great thoughts than from school text books?
Nothing can be made such that it will be acceptable to all. If this proposed deletion is accepted by NCERT then it will be a victory of intolerance thinking and will inculcate the same in our coming generation.
Also i strongly believe that education should be kept away from politics. Many politicians keep on raising such issue to promote narrow minded thinking and to create a intolerant environment where people become less concern about the real issues.
liberal use of the word "critical thinking" is not appropriate at this
juncture when these materials(depictions) itself impose a thinking as
thought out by "experts". In most part it is seen to be telling the
students "descriptions",rather than made to "think".the alternatives provided by the panel is a good replacement,and will have put student to think from both sides.Students out of larger and realistic debates may take a different view,though understandable to an informed and well reasoned adult.say for example,what is meant by this cartoon:- an expert claiming "I am right,I am right,this is my domain,leave it to me,if you dont accept me,you are wrong"
or say, a boy says "media are also corrupted these days,you know all
those talks about paid news,news that harms our electoral processes"..
these may be undestandable to me,not to most of the 11/12th standard
childrens.
Spot On Editorial.
I really feel sorry, that politicians are making the education system a game to be played, so as to burgeon their dirty politics.
Everyone has a right to know the other side of the coin.
It just shows how narrow minded our politician are becoming these days.
First the censorship of internet & now the books.
There are more important things than banging our heads and making judgements by forming a committee in such a hurry over matters of political cartoons and satire. Whatever the Thorat committee has done reflects the intolerance of the political leaders. If the school students are allowed to learn "living style" and all the biological process of a human being in school then there is no harm at all to give her a satirical view of the political society that she lives in.
We should all be acutely aware of the fact that the controversy was started by a "Dalit" MP taking exception to a 62-year old Shankar cartoon, which the MP *perceived* as insulting Dr Ambedkar. It was his personal perception. No one else, not even Dalit leaders, had found anything wrong for 62 years, till the said MP raised a hue and cry. In the circumstances, it was inappropriate for NCERT or the government to appoint SK Thorat, a leading Dalit personality, as head of the Committee, especially when his earlier performance as UGC chairman was not particularly distinguished.
Also, doesn't censoring of a US cartoon showing Republican and Democratic parties as elephant and donkey reveal a shocking level of IGNORANCE?
At an early stage students should learn to think critically but keeping
the cultural diversity and distinct inclinations in India itself result
in imparting biased view among the young minds.Conservative institutions
like family,one of its dis-functions, are responsible for this.so
schools should act in a spirit of nurturing a balanced view among the
young ones.Avoiding/curtailing the controversially inclined elements is
the best choice in the initial stages of development.
Agree completely. I hope the NCERT would have the sense to defy the
Thorat Panel recommendations. I saw all the supposedly offensive
cartoons, and could find nothing in them that a person with common
sense and a sense of humor could object to. I am sure today's children
are equipped to read these cartoons and see them in their proper
context. We don't need a panel to shove ideas down their throat.
Oh! this is "non-sense". It is very much clear that there are the
Political Interests behind this. How can one say that Ambedkar is
shown in Bad light. Our Constitution is the lengthiest of all the
constitutions, it took around 3 years and it is a slow process, the
cartoons are meant to be like that..Whats wrong in this?!!..
We should all protest "Go Back Thorat"...NCERT Books are best for
students who will Understand our Democracy in the Best Way. I Doubt
there is any Good that is left with Our "Existing Politicians"..Its
like there are trying cover "bad & worst" traits infront of the School
Children.
Its So Cheap..And Please NCERT Dont give in to "Thorat or Bhorat"
Recommendations..
You have hit the nail on the head in warning that it will be a national shame if the recommended deletions are accepted by NCERT. Intolerance for ambiguity is the beginning of negation of progress in education. The Thorat committee has insulted the intelligence of school children.
Portrayed by the cartoonist as perceived by him or his mentor in
a witty caricature, a political cartoon is universally understood
as a means to easily attract attention of the public to a
sensitive or consequential situation, conveying as it does
certain view point, not necessarily agreeable to all; but it
stimulates a debate as to the situation itself and its
ramifications and the consequences thereof .The benefit of this
process of intelligent debate and analysis is now made available
to the students. The present government is so inept and
demoralized that it is unable to stand up to the ludicrous
demands of various mischievous segments of partisan political
interests thriving only on disruptive tactics. Change of guard is the solution and not changes in textbooks.
Right on.
Thanks to the Hindu for this editorial. I completely agree with your
last sentence - further, it will be even a shame for humanity. NCERT
in the past has shown resistance to political interference in
education, and one expects even a greater resistance from it at these
times when the freedom of expression and critical thinking are
jeopardised due to political 'calculations' - some may call it
'sensitiveness'! Also, I am an admirer of M S S Pandian's writings
from 'ordinary' perspectives, and I cannot but fully agree with his
observation cited in your editorial.
I beg to differ with the author here. Students are supposed to learn things in the right spirits in their early career. Criticality of any issue is a subjective matter and anything controversial, be it political or communal or about the great leaders of this nation, should be omitted. Unless a student knows how things are, he will not be able to critically analyze. In the name of critical analysis first up, we cant input controversial matters into the minds of young people of India. The picture of Ambedkar, which lead to controversy is indeed showing ambedkar in a bad light who is the chief architect of our constitution. I fully support Thorat committee for taking such a wise decision.
It turns out that Mamta is not the only one who is "hurt" by the publication of cartoons.
I have been reading these books, and found these cartoons really interesting and able to get the reader indulge in thinking exercise instead of the rote learning.It will be really a big loss to the students if these things are removed.
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