Altered image of Mohenjo-daro’s ‘Dancing Girl’ in NCERT Class 9 book sparks controversy

A controversy has emerged over the depiction of the famous “Dancing Girl” figurine of Mohenjo-daro in a newly released NCERT Class 9 arts textbook, with critics questioning changes made to the image of one of the best-known artefacts from the Indus Valley Civilisation.

The image appears in Madhurima, NCERT’s new Class 9 arts education textbook, part of the council’s first dedicated arts education series for Classes 1 to 10 introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).

Observers have pointed to two notable changes in the textbook illustration. Compared with photographs of the original bronze sculpture, the image appears significantly darker and parts of the figurine’s torso have been covered or obscured, altering the appearance of the artefact.

The modified depiction has attracted attention because the same figurine appears in NCERT’s Class 6 Social Science textbook in a form that is much closer to the original sculpture.

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The chapter, titled History of Arts, identifies the Dancing Girl as a bronze figurine from Mohenjo-daro dating to around 2600 BCE.

It describes the sculpture as depicting a figure standing with one hand on the waist, a bent knee and a raised chin. The chapter also includes activities asking students to discuss the pose and recreate it through sketches.

The Dancing Girl is among the most recognisable artefacts discovered at Mohenjo-daro and is widely regarded as an important symbol of the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Danino questions alteration

Historian and author Michel Danino, who headed the textbook development committee for NCERT’s new Class 6 Social Science books, criticised the modification.

According to PTI, Danino said that he had previously been informed that the figurine was considered “not age-appropriate” for younger students.

“This refers to our Grade 6 Social Science textbook. The reason I was given was that the image of the Dancing Girl was not age-appropriate,” Danino told the news agency.

He added that his team disagreed with the assessment and that teachers consulted by the committee had not raised concerns about the image.

According to PTI, Danino also argued that considering nudity inappropriate reflected an “obsolete Victorian view” and said it conflicted with efforts to decolonise Indian education. He further stated that altering the image amounted to a misrepresentation of the original artefact.

“If the Dancing Girl cannot figure as she is, and with proper dimensions, in a chapter on Indian art, then we have a serious problem,” he told the news agency.

NCERT reviewing the matter

NCERT has not issued a formal public statement on the controversy. However, according to a News18 report, the matter has been referred to the Arts Department for review.

An NCERT official, when asked about the issue, said that there was no specific reason behind the depiction and noted that the figurine appears in its original form in the Class 6 Social Science textbook alongside other historical artefacts, the report said.

The council is now reviewing both the depiction and the facts associated with it, according to the report.

(with inputs from agencies)