Replacing ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ in school textbooks?

A high-level committee within the NCERT suggests replacing ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ in school textbooks and introducing ‘classical history’ in place of ‘ancient history.’ They argue that ‘Bharat’ is an age-old name deeply rooted in Indian culture, whereas ‘India’ gained prominence with colonial history. The official use of ‘Bharat’ has been growing, as seen in G20 invites and the nameplate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during international summits.

The committee also proposes teaching the classical period of Indian history alongside medieval and modern history. They emphasize the need to highlight “Hindu victories” in textbooks. Additionally, the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) is recommended for inclusion in the curriculum across all subjects.

These changes align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and are part of the NCERT’s efforts to revise school textbooks, shaping the educational landscape in India.