NEW DELHI: In a swift move, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) decided to restore the original version of the iconic “Dancing Girl” of Mohenjo-daro in its new class IX textbook with immediate effect on the digital books available online as well as in the subsequent printed books. According to sources, the decision was taken after the review by the department of arts education and the textbook development committee Monday.The image of the bronze figurine — one of the most recognisable artefacts of the Indus Valley Civilisation — appears in a fresh avatar in NCERT’s new class IX arts education textbook, with the statuette’s bare torso covered up. The matter of the alteration of the “Dancing Girl” was referred to the group concerned Monday morning, following media reports the same day.The image appears in the opening chapter, “History of Arts”, of Madhurima, NCERT’s new class IX arts education textbook. In the version carried in the textbook, the torso of the figurine appears visually altered compared to photographs of the original artefact, with shading used across the upper body that obscures anatomical details visible in the sculpture.“The matter was referred to the Department of Arts Education and the textbook committee for review. Post review it was decided to restore the earlier image” said an NCERT official.The change was made despite reservations raised during discussions on the presentation of the famous figurine. No NCERT functionary came on record when contacted on the specifics of who cleared the change or when.Michel Danino, who headed the textbook development committee for NCERT’s new class VI social science books, said he had earlier been told that the Dancing Girl figurine was considered “not age-appropriate”.
