NEW DELHI, JUN 25 (PTI): The NCERT has included in the class 9 social science textbook a section on Emergency, which it described as “one of the major challenges to democracy in India” with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan hailing the move saying future generations should know about the “dark deeds”.
While the topic was made part of class 12 school curriculum during UPA rule in 2007, this is the first time it has been included in class 9 textbooks.
“One of the major challenges to democracy in India was recorded when an Emergency was imposed in 1975-77. In the early 1970s, public dissatisfaction with the government led by Indira Gandhi was growing. Rising unemployment, inflation, and allegations of misgovernance led to widespread protests,” said the paragraph in the newly developed Social Science textbook “Understanding Society: India and Beyond”.
“In June 1975, a National Emergency was imposed by the government on the grounds of internal disturbance. During this period, a majority of fundamental rights were suspended, the press was censored, and numerous political leaders and activists were arrested. Democratic institutions came under severe strain, and citizens’ freedom was restricted,” the section says.
The Emergency was imposed 51 years ago on June 25, 1975, following a period of political unrest and a court verdict that declared Gandhi’s election null and void.
Speaking to reporters, Pradhan said, “NCERT has done the right thing. Future generations should know and understand the dark deeds of the Emergency so that such a situation does not arise again. That is why NCERT brought it to the forefront. NCERT did a good job.”
The BJP also backed the decision saying the “dark chapter” in India’s constitutional history must be remembered to ensure it is never repeated.
The ruling party attacked the Congress over the imposition of Emergency and alleged that it is opposing the National Council of Educational Research and Training’s (NCERT) decision to introduce the section.
According to BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, June 25, 1975, marked the darkest chapter of India’s democratic and constitutional journey and alleged that the Congress had attacked every constitutional institution during the period.
Cong slams NCERT’s emergency chapter
Congress MP KC Venugopal criticised the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on Thursday for including a section on the Emergency in the Class IX textbook, accusing the council of engaging in “divisive politics” and undermining Constitutional values, reports the News Mill.
Speaking on the matter, Venugopal said, “They(BJP) are interested only in this type of divisive politics. They are trying to divert the history of India and are trying to change the curriculum… This is not at all acceptable. This is an attack on constitutional values, and we are fighting against that.”
The NCERT has, for the first time, included content on the Emergency in a Class IX Social Science textbook titled Understanding Society: India and Beyond. The topic is presented as “one of the major challenges” to Indian democracy, noting that most fundamental rights were suspended during the Emergency.
An NCERT official confirmed this is the first instance of a section on the Emergency being added to the Class IX curriculum. The addition coincides with the country recently marking 50 years since the Emergency’s declaration in 1975.
The textbook section states, “One of the major challenges to democracy in India was recorded when an Emergency was imposed in 1975-77. In the early 1970s, public dissatisfaction with the government led by Indira Gandhi was growing. Rising unemployment, inflation, and allegations of misgovernance led to widespread protests.”
