Amidst controversy over the new Class 6 social science textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond for using names “Sindhu-Sarasvati” and “Indus-Sarasvati” for Harappan Civilisation, Michel Danino, the chair of the NCERT committee that drafted the textbook has defended the changes. The leftist ecosystem is claiming that these alternative names demonstrate the “Hindutva agenda” of the government.
Defending the alternative names used for Harappan Civilisation in NCERT textbook, Michel Danino told Indian Express, “The decision to include alternative names like ‘Sindhu-Sarasvati’ and ‘Indus-Sarasvati’ for the Harappan civilization is neither new nor driven by any political agenda. Archaeologists, such as Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer of Wisconsin University, British archaeologist Jane McIntosh, and the late Raymond Allchin, one of the foremost authorities on the Indian subcontinent, have used these terms in their work. Jean-Marie Casal, the French archaeologist, also speaks of the Sarasvati River in the context of the Harappan civilization. Gregory Possehl, the late American archaeologist, dedicates several chapters to the Sarasvati River in his book ‘The Indus Age.’”
Danino asserted that the new terminology used in the textbook is based on established archaeological scholarship and not any contemporary political influence. “This terminology is based on established archaeological scholarship, not on any recent political influence. So, this is not a Hindutva thing. Moreover, we have included all alternative names. To me, this is factual,” the visiting professor at IIT Gandhinagar said.
Moreover, Danino called the induction of alternative terminology a “good first step” and also added that more such steps will be taken in the coming days.
In July this year, it was reported that the new NCERT Class 6 Social Science textbook has undergone certain changes. This also included reference to the Harappan Civilisation as “Sindhu-Saraswati” and “Indus-Saraswati” civilisation. Amidst controversy over the new Class 6 social science textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond for using names “Sindhu-Sarasvati” and “Indus-Sarasvati” for Harappan Civilisation, Michel Danino, the chair of the NCERT committee that drafted the textbook has defended the changes. The leftist ecosystem is claiming that these alternative names demonstrate the Hindutva agenda of the government. While earlier, there were distinct textbooks for History, Political Science, and Geography, the new textbook covers all the relevant subjects within the fold of Social Science.
The new textbook has been organised into five themes: ‘India and the World: Land and People’, ‘Tapestry of the Past’, ‘Our Cultural Heritage and Knowledge Traditions’, ‘Governance and Democracy’, and ‘Economic Life Around Us’.
Interestingly, it was reported last year that the researchers from Deccan College Pune and the Central Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) found that human remains unearthed at an ancient site of Rakhigarhi – a village in the Hisar district of Haryana – date back roughly 8,000 years
During the excavations, a large settlement of the largest ancient houses ever was found underground. A courtyard along with a drainage system were also found in it. Moreover, there were two to six-bedroom houses that were also available at that time. The clothing fashion of the people of that time is also known. The research team found a colourful worn piece of cloth, a shawl and a skirt.
“This research has found strong evidence that the Harappan civilisation is 7,000 to 8,000 years old. Scientists from the Department of Archaeology of India and Deccan College have worked together on the project. It is agreed that there was human habitation or civilisation in our country 8,000 years ago,” Deccan College Pune assistant professor Prabhodh Shirwalkar asserted adding that the people back then were as advanced as they are in present times.
