

MUMBAI: In 2004, the social science textbook of Karnataka created a new world order: Pakistan was an island in the Arabian Sea; China was a part of India; Tibet was in the Bay of Bengal; Saarc members like Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal were a cluster of island-nations.

In Punjab, the social science textbook describes tribal hero and freedom fighter Birsa Munda as a man with divine powers, a 'representative of God'. In the chapter that deals with the 18th century tribal revolt, the Chhota Nagpur area is shown in Bihar. On modern industries, the book says: In the 20th century, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi , cotton and silk clothes started being made, because of which the Indian textile industry survived.

Hanuman's birthplace was 'rediscovered ' in Anjanadri in Karnataka's Koppal district, says the state's Class V social science textbook.

For over 10 years, Urdu-medium schools in Gujarat were using a science textbook translated from English by the Gujarat board of school textbooks. The book said calcium could cause cancer and people affected by epidemics should be 'banned'.

How do such errors creep into material that children grow up on?

"The quality of our textbooks is dangerous," sums up Sunanda Sanyal, who was a syllabus committee commentator in West Bengal. "The process of making a textbook is absolutely politicized. After we depoliticize education, we can discuss what went wrong with it. And we will have a lot to discuss."

Most often, say experts, shoddy textbooks are the product of: a weak board of studies that designs books; requests from regional parties to include details about local leaders; and the terrifying pace at which content is written.

"Essentially, the entire batch of (Maharashtra's Class X) geography textbook should be pulped and new content designed. Suresh Jog, a PhD guide who has drawn up the syllabus, has made the text very regional, very narrow in its approach," said Vidyadhar Amrute, who has worked with the textbook panel for years. He pointed out the error of the cartographer who in his sketch handed over Arunachal Pradesh to China.

"The kind of content in that text is meant for MA students. For a Class X student, the syllabus should be wider in scope and must allow students to broaden their horizon of understanding and knowledge," Amrute said.

N Govinda, vice-chancellor, National University of Education Planning and Administration, concurred.

He said state governments had to get serious about textbook preparation. "Authors should be strong academic people who realize the seriousness of what a textbook holds within its covers. Indifference and a lack of concern about details are not acceptable."

Vinod Raina, member, Central Advisory Board of Education (Cabe), said it was sheer incompetence at various stages that resulted in howlers in textbooks. "The NCERT's material must be the principal or model syllabi and states must creatively adapt them to bring in local history, food, geography."

There has to be balance between being parochial and bringing in local flavour, say some experts. Most people on the board allege people in the know of things are not research-oriented and often the education minister recommends names of favourites.

"Board of studies members have a moral responsibility towards the textbooks they design. Members who are selected must be top class academicians," said J M Abhayankar, a former project director of Sarva Shikshan Abhiyan in the state.

