NCERT Faces Questions After ‘Dancing Girl’ of Mohenjo-daro Appears in Altered Form in Class 9 Textbook

One of the most iconic artefacts of the Indus Valley Civilisation, the celebrated “Dancing Girl” of Mohenjo-daro, has appeared in a noticeably altered form in a newly introduced NCERT textbook.

In the revised image, the figurine’s bare torso has been covered through digital shading, giving the impression that the ancient bronze sculpture is clothed.

The modified depiction has sparked debate because the original figurine has been featured in NCERT textbooks for more than two decades without any such alteration.

Historians and education experts have raised concerns, questioning whether the change amounts to unnecessary censorship and historical distortion.

Image Appears in New Arts Education Textbook

The retouched image appears in the opening chapter, titled “History of Arts”, in Madhurima, NCERT’s newly launched arts education textbook for Class 9 students.

In the published image, the figurine’s torso has been shaded from the shoulders downward, obscuring anatomical details visible in photographs of the original bronze sculpture.

The alteration effectively changes the visual appearance of the artefact, making it seem as though the figure is wearing clothing.

The inclusion of the modified image is significant because the “Dancing Girl” has long been regarded as one of the defining symbols of the Harappan or Indus Valley Civilisation and has featured in school textbooks for at least 25 years.

A review of previous NCERT editions reveals that although the figurine has regularly appeared in educational material, including during the NDA government when Murli Manohar Joshi served as the Human Resource Development Minister, its torso had never previously been concealed.

Part of NCERT’s First-Ever Arts Education Series

The textbook forms part of NCERT’s first dedicated arts education series, introduced from Classes 1 to 10 under the National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).

The initiative seeks to integrate arts and cultural education into mainstream school learning and expose students to India’s artistic and civilisational heritage from an early age.

So far, NCERT has released textbooks for Classes 1 to 9 under the new programme.

Why the ‘Dancing Girl’ Matters

The approximately four-inch-high bronze figurine was discovered at Mohenjo-daro, one of the principal urban centres of the Indus Valley Civilisation.

The sculpture portrays a young girl standing confidently with one hand resting on her hip. Her hair is tied in a bun, and she is adorned with numerous bangles, a bracelet and a necklace.

Despite its small size, the figurine’s posture, expression and artistic detailing have made it one of the most recognisable and celebrated symbols of ancient Indian civilisation.

For decades, archaeologists and historians have regarded the sculpture as evidence of the Harappan civilisation’s remarkable artistic sophistication and advanced metallurgical capabilities.

The original artefact is presently housed in the National Museum in New Delhi and remains one of its most admired exhibits.

Earlier Objections Over Nudity Had Been Resolved

Interestingly, concerns regarding the figurine’s depiction had surfaced earlier as well.

In an interview published by The Indian Express on May 27, historian Michel Danino, who headed the textbook development committee for NCERT’s new Class 6 Social Science textbooks, revealed that objections had been raised within NCERT regarding the use of the “Dancing Girl” image.

According to Danino, some members of NCERT believed the figurine’s nude depiction could become controversial and objected to its placement on the opening page of a chapter dealing with the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Danino said he strongly disagreed with the concern.

“I even told NCERT that if the Dancing Girl is not age-appropriate, then perhaps children of that age should not be allowed into the National Museum either because the figurine is displayed there,” he had remarked.

Although he initially resisted any alteration to the placement of the image, he eventually agreed to move the illustration from the chapter opener to an inside page and reduce its size.

Importantly, however, the original image itself remained unchanged in the textbook.

NCERT Says There Was No Specific Reason

When asked whether the masking of the figurine’s torso was linked to concerns regarding nudity, NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani denied that there was any deliberate intention behind the alteration.

“No, I don’t think there is any specific reason. In Grade 6 Social Science, the Dancing Girl is very much there along with many other findings related to Harappan civilisation because it is one of its important discoveries,” Saklani told the media.

He further suggested that queries regarding the arts textbook should be directed to members of the relevant Textbook Development Team.

Sandhya Purecha, Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and head of the textbook development team for Arts Education, was unavailable for comment.

Michel Danino Calls the Alteration ‘Censorship’

Reacting to the modified image in the Class 9 textbook, historian Michel Danino strongly criticised the depiction, calling it misleading and unfair to students.

According to him, the altered illustration not only diminishes the artistic value of the artefact but also amounts to an act of censorship.

“This picture of the Dancing Girl is unfair to students. First, the image is so tiny that one cannot properly appreciate the remarkable facial expression or ornaments of the figurine.

Second, shading the entire trunk of the figure amounts to censorship,” Danino said.

He further argued that such prudishness was misplaced in a country whose museums and heritage sites contain numerous semi-nude and nude sculptures of goddesses, celestial beings and other artistic representations.

“Unless we wish to return to Victorian morality, such an approach is inappropriate.

Should students then also be barred from entering the National Museum where the original figurine is displayed?” he asked.

Danino also contended that digitally altering the image effectively creates an artefact that does not exist in reality.

“This manipulation results in a fake representation of the object. Such practices simply should not happen,” he added.

Larger Questions on Historical Representation

The controversy has reopened broader questions about how historical artefacts should be represented in educational material.

For historians and archaeologists, the “Dancing Girl” is not merely a sculpture but an invaluable window into the cultural life, artistic achievements and technological capabilities of one of the world’s oldest urban civilisations.

Critics argue that altering the appearance of such an iconic object risks presenting students with a modified version of history rather than the original historical evidence itself.

Danino is no longer associated with NCERT’s textbook development committee for Social Science, having stepped down following controversies surrounding references to corruption and judicial delays in the revised Class 8 Social Science textbook.

However, the debate surrounding the altered image of the “Dancing Girl” has once again ignited a larger conversation about the balance between cultural sensitivity, educational objectives and the faithful representation of India’s rich historical heritage in school textbooks.