NCERT: Image of nude 'dancing girl' sculpture restored in Indian textbook after backlash
GS1History · Society · Geography· Ancient & medieval India· Prelims·
Why in news
NCERT restored the original image of the 'Dancing Girl' sculpture in Grade 9 textbooks after facing backlash for using a modified version that obscured the torso.
Background
The 'Dancing Girl' is a bronze sculpture discovered at Mohenjo-daro, a major site of the Indus Valley Civilization. NCERT, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, is responsible for formulating the national curriculum and textbooks.
Facts for Prelims
- PlaceMohenjo-daro: A major archaeological site of the Indus Valley Civilization located in present-day Pakistan.
- S&TDancing Girl: A famous bronze sculpture representing the artistic and metallurgical skills of the Harappan civilization.
- BodyNCERT: National Council of Educational Research and Training, an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Education.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the importance of maintaining historical integrity and archaeological accuracy in school textbooks to foster a nuanced understanding of India's ancient heritage.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Pedagogical integrity: Ensuring that historical artifacts are presented without ideological filters to maintain academic rigor.
- Institutional autonomy: Balancing the role of NCERT in curriculum design with expert-led historical oversight.
- Cultural preservation: Protecting the authenticity of archaeological finds from subjective interpretations in public education.
Keywords: Historical Integrity · Pedagogical Accuracy · Indus Valley Civilization · Curriculum Standardization · Archaeological Authenticity
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.