GUWAHATI: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has decided to replace the altered image of the iconic Indus Valley Civilisation “Dancing Girl” figurine in its Class 9 arts textbook with the original photograph following criticism from historians, academicians and educators.
ALSO READ: WATCH | US Air Force B-52 Bomber Crashes in California, Eight Dead
Confirming the move, speaking with the media the NCERT Director Dinesh Saklani said, the issue was reviewed immediately after it came to the organisation’s notice and the concerned department was asked to examine the matter. Sources said NCERT also consulted subject experts before deciding to restore the original image in the textbook.
The controversy arose after the renowned bronze statuette appeared in a modified form in the newly introduced Class 9 arts textbook, with parts of its traditionally bare torso visually obscured. Critics argued that the alteration amounted to censorship and inaccurately represented a historically significant artefact.
The image features in NCERT’s first dedicated arts education textbook series for Classes 1 to 10, developed under the National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).
Discovered at Mohenjo-daro, the “Dancing Girl” is a bronze figurine dating back more than 4,000 years and is widely regarded as one of the most significant artistic achievements of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The artefact is currently housed at the National Museum in New Delhi and is frequently used in educational material to illustrate early Indian art and craftsmanship.
The restored image will be incorporated into both the digital edition and upcoming print versions of the Class 9 arts textbook, addressing concerns raised by scholars who had called for historical artefacts to be presented in their original form.