NCERT covers up Mohenjo-daro Dancing Girl image in Class 9 textbook, sparks debate

NCERT is facing questions over the depiction of the Sindhu-Saraswati Civilisation's Dancing Girl in its new Class 9 art textbook. The altered shading has sparked a debate on historical accuracy and what NCERT wants to represent in the textbooks.

In Short

• Critics say heavy shading obscures the figurine's original form in chapter one
• The bronze artefact from Mohenjo-daro is believed to be 4,500 years old
• Class 6 NCERT textbook shows the same statue without visible alteration or shading

NCERT has come under scrutiny over the depiction of the iconic "Dancing Girl" of the Sindhu-Saraswati Civilisation in its newly introduced Class 9 art textbook, Madhurima.

The controversy centres on an illustration of the bronze figurine published in Chapter 1, History of Art. Critics have pointed out that the image appears different from the original artefact, with substantial shading applied below the shoulders, obscuring parts of the figure's form.

The accompanying text in the textbook describes the statue as an example of the lost-wax casting technique, a traditional metalworking method that continues to be practised in parts of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

"The bronze figurine from Mohenjo-Daro was made using the lost-wax technique prevalent in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. The sculpture depicts a posture with one knee bent, one hand on the waist and a slightly lifted chin," the textbook states.

When contacted by India Today, senior NCERT officials confirmed that the matter had been referred to the concerned department for examination.

"The matter has been referred to the concerned department, and the department is reviewing it," a senior NCERT official said.

NCERT has not yet issued a detailed clarification on the image or indicated whether any revisions will be made in future editions of the textbook.

The "Dancing Girl" remains one of the most celebrated discoveries of the Sindhu-Saraswati Civilisation.

Unearthed in 1926 at Mohenjo-daro, in present-day Pakistan, the bronze statuette stands approximately 10.5 centimetres tall and is estimated to be around 4,500 years old.

Archaeologists and historians have long regarded the artefact as evidence of the sophisticated craftsmanship and metallurgical knowledge of the Harappan people.

Cast in bronze, the figure portrays a young girl standing in a poised stance, with one hand resting on her hip, her chin raised and her arms adorned with numerous bangles.

Over the decades, the statuette has become one of the defining visual symbols of the Sindu-Saraswati Civilisation and has frequently appeared in academic publications, museum collections and school textbooks.

Historians consider it a prominent example of early artistic expression in South Asia and a window into the cultural life of one of the world's earliest urban civilisations.

NO CHANGE IN CLASS 6 TEXTBOOK

In the Class 6 Social Science textbook, The Beginning of Indian Civilization, the "Dancing Girl" is shown in its original form without any visible alteration or shading.

The difference in presentation between the two textbooks has led some academics and education observers to question why the modification was made in the Class 9 art book.

When asked why the changes had been made only in the Class 9 textbook and not in the Class 6 edition, NCERT officials told India Today: "The matter was still under review and that it would not be appropriate to make a statement at this stage. The teams from the history, culture and art departments had already been involved in discussions to examine the rationale behind the change and why it had been applied to the Class 9 textbook but not to the Class 6 version."

According to several educators, historians and social media users, the shading obscures parts of the statue's original form and gives the impression that the figure has been clothed.

Several critics argue that school textbooks should present historical artefacts as accurately as possible. They say any visual modification, even if made for design or educational reasons, risks creating confusion among students about the original appearance of the object.

For now, the discussion continues among educators, historians and students, with many calling for clarity on how one of India's most iconic archaeological discoveries came to be presented differently in a textbook intended to introduce young learners to the history of art.

- Ends