(a) whether the Government has constituted a three. member committee of eminent historians to review the existing NCERT school history books along with other subjects;
(b) if so, the details thereof along witli the terms and conditions of the committee;
(c) whether the existing history books would be studied by the students for the academic year 2004-05;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps being taken to protect students` future in view of changes in. the textbooks?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI ARJUN SINGH)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.
THE STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE REPLY TO LOK SABRA STARRED QUESTION NO. 26 BY SHRI C.K.
CHANDRAPPAN AND SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY REGARDING NCERT BOOKS DUE FOR ANSWER ON 06TH JULY, 2004.
(a) & (b) Yes, Sir, for the review of history textbooks of NCERT. The panel
comprises three eminent historians, namely, Prof. S. Settar, currently Dr. S. Radhakrishnan visiting Professor
at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore and formerly the Chairman of the Indian Council of
Historical Research, Prof. J.S. Grewal, former Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University and former
Director of Indian Institute of Advanced Studies at Shimla and Prof. Baron De., an eminent historian of
modern India and first Director of the Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Institute for Asian Studies, Kolkata.
The terms of reference of the panel is given at Annexure-I.
(c) to (e) : The Government will take a decision after due examination of the recommendations of the panel.
Annexure-I
Terms of Reference of the panel of historians constituted for review of history text books of NCERT
1. To do a quick review of history text books ofNCERT by a panel of eminent historians of impeccable
credentials, to suggest what needs to be done in the short term. If they so recommend, the Government will
direct the NCERT and the CBSE to issue appropriate directions to the teachers to transact the curriculum
as per those recommendations.
2. In particular, the recommendations should be for removing distorted and communally biased portions
and for inclusion of short passages which will fill in the gaps that some of these books are supposed to be
having or could develop after the removal of the aforesaid mentioned passages.
3. The three distinguished historians have been requested by the Government to submit their recommendations
at the earliest so that the interventions could be made, if necessary, as early as possible, in the academic
session that has already started in some schools in the country.
4. Joint Secretary (School Education) in the Ministry of Human Resource Development will provide secretariat
and logistics support to this group.