Leader Online Desk : Babri Masjid has been mentioned as a 'three-domed structure' in NCERT's new class 12 political science book. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has objected to this today (18).
Asaduddin Owaisi in his X post said, “'NCERT' has decided to experiment with the term “three-domed structure” in place of Babri Masjid. It has also decided to call the Ayodhya verdict an example of “consensus”. Children should know about the Babri Masjid demolition and not “glorify criminal acts”.
The NCERT has decided to replace Babri Masjid with the words “three domed structure.” It has also decided to call the Ayodhya judgment an example of “consensus.” India's children should know that the Supreme Court called the demolition of Babri Masjid an “egregious criminal…
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) June 18, 2024
What exactly is the case?
The name of Babri Masjid has been removed from the NCERT Class 12 Social Science book. Now a new book describes it as a three-domed structure. The chapter on Ayodhya has been reduced from four pages to just two pages. It contains the story of the struggle to build the Ram temple. The Rath Yatra of Somnath, role of Karsevaks, violence in Ayodhya are included. According to media reports, an old book mentions that the Babri Masjid was built by Mughal Emperor Babur's general Mir Baqi in the 16th century.
What was mentioned in the old book?
In 1528, a three-domed structure was built at the birthplace of Shri Ram. The chapter mentioned that the structure has many Hindu symbols. There were sculptures on the inner and outer walls. In two pages of the old book, it is said that the Faizabad district court decided to open the mosque. Since then many incidents happened here. In 1992, a Rath Yatra was taken out for the construction of the Ram temple and the Karsevaks caused tension. Then there were communal riots in 1993.
What did the NCERT chief say?
Hate and violence are not subjects of education, school textbooks should not focus on them. References to the Gujarat riots and the Babri Masjid demolition were replaced in school textbooks because teaching about the riots could create a violent and depressed citizenry, NCERT director Dinesh Prasad Saklani said. He has also denied the allegation of saffronisation of the school curriculum.
In an interview to PTI, Dinesh Prasad Saklani had said that the change in textbooks is part of the annual revision and should not be a matter of confusion. When asked about references to Gujarat riots or Babri Masjid demolition in NCERT textbooks, Saklani said, “Why teach about riots in school textbooks? We want to create positive citizens, not violent and frustrated individuals. Will students become offensive, create hatred in society or become victims of hatred? Is this the purpose of education? Should we teach such young children about riots? Let students understand what they want to do when they grow up from school textbooks. We want to create positive citizens and that is the aim of our textbooks. Hatred and violence are not teaching subjects; They should not be the focus of our textbooks,” said Saklani.