A short note from me on a painful lesson
I read with sadness the Education Ministry's statement today and the swift actions that followed the controversy around a Class 8 NCERT chapter on the judiciary. When the Union Minister himself says he is "very sad" and that "accountability will be fixed," I hear both regret and the admission that our systems for shaping young minds failed in this instance.
I welcome the clear words from Dharmendra Pradhan (minister.sm@gov.in) — that the government has "utmost respect for the judiciary" and will comply with the court's directives — because accountability matters, and institutions matter. The moment must be used not only to correct a single editorial failure, but to strengthen the steady and thoughtful civic education our children deserve (Times of India).
What worries me (and why I write this in first person)
- Textbooks are not opinion pieces. They are public instruments that shape civic understanding. When they treat complex institutions as caricatures, we risk teaching cynicism to kids who are still learning how democracies work.
- The response must be firm and fair. Those responsible for errors should be held to account — but the response should not become an instrument for silencing legitimate critique or for weaponising curricula.
- We must teach children both the ideals and the real-world challenges of institutions: the role of courts in protecting rights, and the administrative problems (backlogs, access) that need reform.
I have been writing about judicial reform, digital courts and the urgent need to tackle pendency for years. In pieces such as my essay on case pendency and e‑courts I argued for practical reforms to strengthen faith in justice delivery systems; those ideas still matter now as part of the solution rather than the blame game (Justice delayed is Justice Denied).
A short, practical checklist: what I hope happens next
- Independent, expert review: NCERT should set up an independent editorial review panel (including constitutional scholars and educators) to vet curricular language on institutions.
- Transparent corrections and pedagogy: Rewrite contested sections with balanced context — history, function, achievements, and challenges — and provide teacher guides so classroom discussion is informed, not inflammatory.
- Rapid takedown and retrieval protocols: Digital takedown orders and physical recall are necessary when errors slip out; but those protocols must be accompanied by transparent explanations to the public so trust can be rebuilt.
- Protect academic integrity: While accountability is essential, review processes must protect scholarly independence and prevent over-politicisation of textbooks.
- Address root causes: Combine curricular reform with civic literacy programmes, teacher training, and conversations that teach students how to think critically about institutions.
A personal ask to those in charge
To Dharmendra Pradhan (minister.sm@gov.in) and the education apparatus: use this episode as an opportunity to strengthen NCERT's editorial systems and to mainstream civic literacy that is honest, nuanced and constructive. I agree that institutions deserve respect — but respect grows best from trust built on transparent processes and robust civic education.
To teachers and parents: let us turn a moment of controversy into a teachable moment. Encourage questions, explain context, and help students understand the difference between institutional critique and institutional defamation.
If we get this right, we will not only correct a single mistake — we will teach a generation how to hold institutions to account while preserving the dignity of those institutions that uphold our constitutional order.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
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