‘Dancing Girl’ of Indus Valley Civilization seen changed in NCERT’s new book, debate over the picture

A discussion has started among historians and education experts over the changed picture of the famous ‘Dancing Girl’ statue of the Indus Valley Civilization in the new Class 9 textbook of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). This statue is considered one of the most famous archaeological discoveries of the Indian subcontinent and is an important symbol of art heritage thousands of years old.

This picture has been published in NCERT’s new art education book ‘Madhurima’. In this picture included in the first chapter of the book ‘History of Art’, the appearance of the famous bronze statue appears somewhat different from the original statue. Especially changes have been seen in the upper part of the statue, which has attracted the attention of experts.

What is the ‘Dancing Girl’ statue?

In fact, the ‘Dancing Girl’ statue found from Mohenjodaro of the Indus Valley Civilization is considered to be about 4,000 years old. It is a small statue made of bronze, which is famous all over the world for its artistry, confident posture and excellent craftsmanship. In books related to history and archaeology, it is often published in the same original form in which it was discovered.

However, in the picture published in the new book of NCERT, the torso part of the statue is shown shaded or covered. Physical details visible in the original statue are not visible in this photo. Due to this, when looking at the statue it appears as if it is wearing a garment.

What did the NCERT director say?

After this change came to light, discussion on it has started in social media and academic world. Many historians and education experts say that historical and archaeological heritage should be presented in its original form, so that students can get correct and authentic information. At the same time, some people believe that this can only be an artistic presentation and it should not be seen as a major controversy.

In this matter, NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani says that no specific reason has been given for covering the torso of the statue. He said that this topic has been sent to the Department of Arts and Education, which is responsible for the production of this book. He also suggested that the concerned textbook development team may be contacted for further information.

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symbol of ancient cultural heritage

No detailed official explanation has yet been issued by NCERT regarding this change. In such a situation, it is not clear whether the change made in the picture was due to technical reasons or it was a part of the design process of the book.

The ‘Dancing Girl’ statue is counted among the most important archaeological discoveries in Indian history. This statue, found from Mohenjodaro in the 1920s, is considered an excellent example of the advanced art and metal craft technology of the Indus Valley Civilization. Even today this statue is considered a symbol of the ancient cultural heritage of India and South Asia.

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