NCERT textbook revamp sparks debate over Ayodhya coverage: Report

The section on Ayodhya has also been condensed from four pages to two, with several critical details removed.

The revised NCERT Class 12 Political Science textbook has sparked considerable discussion due to significant changes in its coverage of the Ayodhya dispute. According to The Indian Express, the notable alterations include no longer mentioning the Babri Masjid by name, instead referring to it as a "three-domed structure." The section on Ayodhya has also been condensed from four pages to two, with several critical details removed.

The revised textbook shifts the focus away from the historical identity of the Babri Masjid as a mosque built by Mir Baqi during the Mughal era. It now describes it as a "three-dome structure" built at the site of Shri Ram's birthplace in 1528, highlighting Hindu symbols and relics found within and around the structure.

Key details removed from the new edition include:

- The BJP's Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya.
- The role of kar sevaks in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
- The communal violence following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992.
- The imposition of President's rule in BJP-ruled states.
- The BJP's expression of regret over the Ayodhya events.

Earlier reports from The Indian Express on April 5 hinted at changes, including the removal of at least three references to the demolition and an increased emphasis on the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. However, the full extent of these revisions has only recently come to light.

The previous textbook provided detailed coverage of the mobilisation and communal tensions following the unlocking of the mosque in 1986, the demolition in 1992, and the subsequent violence in early 1993. The new edition replaces this with a brief paragraph summarising these events, notably omitting references to communal violence and political ramifications.