The Wind Of Change: Class 6 English Textbook Now Proudly 'Made in India'

Embracing Our Roots: NCERT's New Class 6 Textbook Ditches Western Narratives

The wind of nationalism is sweeping through Indian school classrooms as NCERT takes command, steering students away from Western ideologies and nudging them towards Indian culture. NCERT Class 6 English Textbook is proud “Made In India” now, highlighting regional literature, scientific discoveries, and cultural customs. This textbook seeks to give young students a sense of pride in being Indian. “Poorvi '' means “from the East '' is the pre-eminent English Language Textbook for class 6 created by NCERT in accordance with the National Curriculum Framework 2023. Its content has been updated, with the majority of its chapters having an Indian context and making references to Indian customs, culture, and historical knowledge.

Recognizing that altering the text can shape readers' perspectives, the majority of content in the new textbook which consists of nine prose pieces is set in Indian locations with Indian characters with the exception of five poems by non-Indian authors. The previous book had stories written by non-Indian authors that featured non-Indian characters, such as "Patrick" and "Ms. Beam."The earlier volume, on the other hand, contained eight poems, seven of which were written by non-Indian authors, and eight prose pieces, five of which were written outside of India.

The major changes in new textbooks are made according to the new National Education Policy 2020 which claims that curricula should be “rooted in the Indian and local context and ethos.” The new textbook features a wealth of Indian authors' works, including Sudha Murthy's story of Rama Natha, a rich landlord's son captivated by the idea of a magic potion, and S.I. Farooqui's tale of a little girl named Amber who communicates with a neem tree. Additionally, the chapter on "Health and Wellness" includes a three-page discussion on the benefits of yoga.

Article 1 of the constitution of India proposed that “India that is Bharat” to underscore the unity of India. The new edition of the book Bharat first appears in the chapter "Culture and Tradition," where it is used synonymously with India. There are 19 mentions of Bharat and just seven mentions of India. The “Hamara Bharat, Incredible India” chapter in the book has 7 opening sentences that refer to India alone as Bharat. India has been renowned internationally as a land of knowledgeable and courageous citizens and all these little additions will work together to guarantee Bharat's prosperity and international recognition.

“Dadi Maa KE Nuskhe” as we have seen in our childhood, the remedies for all illnesses are present in our kitchen, such tales are also depicted in the chapter “Spices that Heal Us”. A letter from a grandmother to her grandchildren that lists a number of all-natural remedies and the "benefits of spices" is used to try and explain this. The NCF 2023 and the NEP 2020 "have emphasised connecting learning to the immediate environment of the student so that they can relate learning to their context," an NCERT spokesman said when questioned about these revisions to The Indian Express.

Regarding the references to Bharat, the spokesman stated: "India, that is, Bharat, must be a union of states,' essentially codifying India and Bharat as equally official short names for the Republic of India. This is stated in the first Article of the Constitution of India. By sharing stories from throughout India, it also hopes to inspire children to learn more about the nation.

Eight chapters comprised the old NCERT English language textbook "Honeysuckle," most of which featured stories written by Western authors. It also included the English translations of two stories: "Banyan Tree" by Ruskin Bond and "Fair Play" by Munshi Premchand. For Classes 3 and 6, the NCERT's primary goal was to release new textbooks based on the NCF 2023. Class 6 textbooks have been delayed, although those for Class 3 are currently accessible in stores.

The new Class 6 English and Hindi textbooks were only distributed by NCERT this week, in the middle of the academic year. The textbooks for the other subjects—mathematics, science, and social science—have not yet been finalized, therefore schools are being urged to instruct Class 6 using a bridge program until they are.

A 19-member committee led by M. C. Pant, Chancellor of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, oversaw the development of these textbooks. The committee members included singer Shankar Mahadevan, professor Manjul Bhargava of Princeton University, philanthropist and writer Sudha Murty, and Bibek Debroy, Chairperson of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council. 

Editor’s Note:

With "GoodBye West, Namaste Bharat," learning does, in fact, take on a fresh and fascinating aspect, one that is deeply anchored in India. The Class 6 NCERT English textbook is a shining example of academic quality and cultural pride in this new era of Indian education. It represents a bright future in which local tales and knowledge are used as a source of inspiration to nurture youthful brains.

Skoobuzz is proud and grateful to NCERT for taking such an innovative step which will make students familiar with their Indian roots in this era of burgeoning Western culture.