Kerala’s Education Minister V Sivankutty on Monday, April 14, came down heavily on the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for introducing Hindi titles in English-medium textbooks.
Calling the move “irrational” and a blow to linguistic diversity, Sivankutty urged the NCERT to immediately review and roll back the decision, which he said disrespects the multilingual fabric of the country and Kerala’s cultural autonomy. “Education should be a tool for empowerment and consensus, not a tool for imposition,” the Minister said.
So far, English-medium textbooks used by CBSE schools had titles in English. However, the NCERT has now renamed several English textbooks using Hindi words — the Class 6 English reader ‘Honeysuckle’ has been renamed Poorvi, a Hindi word meaning ‘eastern’ and also the name of a Hindustani classical raga. Similarly, the Class 1 textbook will now be called Mridang and Class 3 Santoor.
Sivankutty questioned the rationale behind replacing long-standing English titles with Hindi ones, saying it was “absolutely wrong” to do so when these books have, for decades, promoted inclusivity and cultural sensitivity among children. “These are not just labels — textbook titles influence students’ perceptions and imagination. English-medium students should have English titles,” he said.
He also accused the NCERT of undermining the constitutional principle of federalism by unilaterally implementing changes that affect states across the country. The move, he said, runs contrary to the spirit of cooperative federalism and must be opposed collectively by all states.
The Minister’s remarks come amid growing resistance from southern states against what is being perceived as the increasing imposition of Hindi through the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The DMK government led by MK Stalin, in Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the NEP’s three-language formula for the same reason.