The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will replace the modified image of the iconic “Dancing Girl” figurine of Mohenjo-daro in its Class IX Arts textbook with the original version, following criticism over the artefact’s ‘clothed’ depiction.
The move comes amid a debate over the representation of one of the most recognisable archaeological artefacts from the Indus Valley Civilisation in school textbooks.
“The matter was referred to the department concerned and the image will be replaced with the original version. The correction will be incorporated in the print version immediately, and all revised editions will carry the original image,” an NCERT official said.
The altered photograph of the sculpture appeared in “History of Arts”, a chapter in ‘Madhurima’, the new Arts education textbook for Class IX. In the image, the figurine’s torso had been digitally shaded from the shoulders down, giving it the appearance of being clothed.
The bronze sculpture, currently housed at the National Museum, is among the most celebrated artefacts of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The 4,500-year-old statuette was excavated in 1926 from the Hargreaves area of Mohenjo-daro and remains one of the most iconic examples of Harappan art.
