Controversy over dressing the 'Dancing Girl' in an NCERT textbook; former NCERT official reveals whose decision it was..

A controversy has erupted over *Madhurima*, the new Class 9 Art Education book published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The dispute centers on the depiction of the famous bronze statue from Mohenjo-daro, known as the 'Dancing Girl,' which appears to have been clothed in this new edition. Specifically, the 'Dancing Girl's' nude torso has been covered, creating the impression that she is wearing clothes—a departure from previous editions where she was depicted in her original, unclothed state. This famous artifact of the Indus Valley Civilization has appeared in its authentic form in NCERT books for nearly 25 years, but the decision to clothe the figure this time has sparked a heated debate.

Ved Prakash, a former Under Secretary at NCERT, has also opposed this change. He has raised questions regarding the decision-making process behind clothing the 'Dancing Girl.' Let us examine the entire matter in detail.

"A 4,500-year-old statue; cultural artifacts should not be tampered with"
Former NCERT Under Secretary Ved Prakash has objected to the decision to clothe the 'Dancing Girl.' Speaking to the news agency PTI, he noted that the 'Dancing Girl' is a 4,500-year-old statue that has been featured in NCERT books for the past 25 years.

He pointed out that the same image is published in the Class 6 textbook without any issue regarding the statue's nudity; however, in the Class 9 book, the upper part of the torso has been covered—a step he deemed unnecessary. He argued that the policy should have been applied consistently across both classes. He further stated that cultural artifacts should not be tampered with, as such alterations could create the impression that the statue is a fake rather than the genuine article.

Who decided to clothe the 'Dancing Girl'? Vedprakash, a former Under Secretary at NCERT, explained in detail the process behind the decision to clothe the 'Dancing Girl' figure in the textbook. He noted that the content of NCERT books undergoes a multi-stage process. Following the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, NCERT formulated the National Curriculum Framework. This framework determines the curriculum—what is to be taught to children and the nature of the textbooks to be produced.

He explained that an expert committee, comprising subject-matter specialists, is subsequently formed to develop the content; each subject has its own expert committee and chairperson. This is followed by a review committee, which assesses the prepared content for appropriateness—for instance, ensuring it does not offend any culture or religion or contain objectionable material.

He further stated that an NCERT academic committee subsequently validates the material before the book is sent for printing. This is not the responsibility of a single individual but a collective effort. Academics are involved in the book's preparation, and there is no government interference in the process.

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