The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has revised its Class 12 Political Science textbook, introducing several significant changes. The most notable alteration is the removal of the term “Babri Masjid,” now referred to as a “three-domed structure.” Additionally, the chapter on Ayodhya has been condensed from four pages to two.

NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani addressed concerns about the changes, stating, “We don’t follow any ideology when we publish books. Experts have done what they thought was fit for the syllabus.” He emphasized that the revisions align with the latest updates on the matter.

The revised textbook includes the Supreme Court’s 2019 ruling that the disputed land in Ayodhya belongs to the temple, reflecting contemporary legal decisions. Historical descriptions have also been modified; the previous depiction of Babri Masjid as a 16th-century mosque built by Mir Baqi now describes it as a structure built at Lord Ram’s birthplace in 1528, incorporating Hindu paintings and statues.

Key Changes Include:

1. *Removal of Babri Masjid Reference:* The term has been replaced with “three-domed structure.”

2. *Reduction of Ayodhya Chapter:* Content reduced from four pages to two, including descriptions of Lord Rama’s Rath Yatra, the role of kar sevaks, and violence following the Babri Masjid demolition.

3. *Historical Descriptions Revised:* Babri Masjid is now described as a structure built at Lord Ram’s birthplace with references to Hindu iconography.

Changes in Legal and Communal Narratives:

The old book detailed the 1986 Faizabad District Court’s decision to open the mosque for worship, leading to communal tensions. The new edition summarizes these events, mentioning the opening of the three-domed structure and subsequent legal and communal conflicts.

Regarding the Gujarat riots, Saklani noted, “If students want to read about violence and riots, there are many other reading materials available elsewhere.” The revised textbook aims to reduce repetition and focus on relevant contemporary issues.

The new textbook, implemented for the 2024-25 academic session, reflects updates based on the latest political developments. This is the fourth revision of the NCERT book since 2014, aiming to align educational content with current political contexts.

The revised book emphasizes the Supreme Court’s 2019 decision, highlighting the verdict that allotted the disputed site to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust for the construction of a Ram temple and directed the allocation of a site for a mosque to the Sunni Central Waqf Board. This decision is portrayed as a significant example of conflict resolution in a plural society.

In the context of the BJP’s Rath Yatra, the old textbook detailed the Faizabad district court’s order in February 1986, leading to the opening of the Babri Masjid premises for Hindu worship. This event triggered significant communal mobilization and violence. The new textbook, however, focuses on the resolution process and the Supreme Court’s 2019 judgment.

The revised textbook presents the Supreme Court’s decision as a demonstration of the maturity of Indian democracy and its ability to resolve conflicts through the rule of law. It emphasizes the inclusive spirit of the Constitution and the importance of legal procedures in resolving disputes.

The changes in the NCERT textbook reflect a shift towards presenting contemporary legal resolutions and reducing detailed descriptions of historical communal conflicts. The revisions aim to align the educational content with current political and legal developments, providing students with an updated perspective on significant national issues.

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