Key facts
- NCERT will restore the original image of the 'Dancing Girl' figurine in its Class 9 Arts textbook.
- The modified image in the textbook depicted the artifact with its torso covered.
- Criticism centered on the alteration misrepresenting the original artifact and reflecting an 'age-inappropriate' view.
- Michel Danino, involved in NCERT textbook development, criticized the modification as a misrepresentation.
- The 'Dancing Girl' is an iconic artifact from the Indus Valley Civilisation, dating to around 2600 BCE.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has decided to reinstate the original depiction of the 'Dancing Girl' figurine from Mohenjo-daro in its Class 9 Arts textbook, following significant criticism. The modified image, which covered the artifact's bare torso, had sparked a debate about the representation of historical artifacts in educational materials.
NCERT Director Dinesh Saklani confirmed the decision to revert to the original version. The alteration in the new textbook, titled 'Madhurima', used shading to obscure anatomical details visible in the original bronze sculpture. This contrasted with the depiction in NCERT's Class 6 Social Science textbook, which was closer to the original artifact.