India’s National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) removed the name of Babri Masjid from the Class XII political science textbook.
It was already reported that some revisions are being made in the NCERT Class XII Political Science books. But what is being corrected, how much is being corrected, is not known before.
It was only after the new edition came out that the history of Ayodhya was revised. Where earlier the history of Ayodhya was written on four pages, now NCERT has brought it to two pages.
CBSE Board follows NCERT syllabus. ICSE and ISE boards also follow this syllabus in some cases. Naturally, a nationwide debate has started in such an incident.
It is learned that the new edition of the NCERT Class 12 Political Science book, released last week, does not mention the Babri Masjid anywhere in the history presented in just two pages.
The Babri Masjid is described in the book as a ‘three-domed structure’. Not only that, there is no mention in the book of the Rath Yatra that the BJP took out from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya. There is no mention of the violence of the Karsevaks.
The communal riots that broke out after the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992 have also been removed. President’s rule was imposed in BJP-ruled states at that time, nothing else in the books.
Earlier NCERT Political Science books mentioned that Babri Masjid was built in 16th century. It was written in the book that the rest was built by Mir Baki, the commander of the Mughal emperor Babur. The new edition of the book does not mention the name of Babri Masjid even at one place. Rather, it is written, in 1528, a three-domed structure was built at the birth place of Sri Rama, where various symbols of Hinduism were visible.
Ruins of Hindu monuments are seen inside and outside the structure. Earlier editions of the book had references to the Babri Masjid destruction and clashes. However, the new version has written, ‘BJP’s regrets about Ayodhya had no end.’
The old version said that after the Babri Masjid was unlocked in February 1986 on the orders of the Faizabad court, the two sides broke out. Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya, communal unrest, frenzy of Karsevaks, destruction of Babri Masjid and riots were mentioned in earlier editions.
The new version reads, ‘BJP had no end of regrets about Ayodhya.’ The book also mentions that Ayodhya is the source of the idea that there is a need for a new debate on secularism.
The new version also reads, ‘It is believed that the three-domed structure was erected on the birthplace of Shri Ram after the temple was demolished. Even after the foundation stone of the temple was laid, the construction work did not proceed. As a result, Hindus feel that their passion for Ram Janmabhoomi is being ignored.
On the other hand, the Muslims claimed possession of the entire structure. With that, the tension increases on both sides. A legal tussle ensued. Both sides wanted to settle this long-standing dispute. After the destruction of the structure in 1992, some critics felt that the very ethos of Indian democracy was at stake.
