NCERT Restores Original 'Dancing Girl' Art

NCERT has opted to revert to the original depiction of the 'Dancing Girl' figurine in its Class 9 arts textbook. This decision comes after academicians and historians voiced concerns over modifications to the iconic Indus Valley Civilisation artefact. The altered image, which visually obscured portions of the figurine's torso, was criticized as an act of censorship. NCERT Director Dinesh Saklani confirmed that the matter was reviewed, and experts advised restoring the original artwork. The 'Dancing Girl' statuette, dating back 4,500 years, is a celebrated artifact from Mohenjo-daro. The modified image appeared in NCERT's new arts education series textbooks introduced under the National Education Policy.

The original bronze statuette stands approximately 10.5 cm tall and is renowned for its naturalistic representation, adorned with jewelry. However, the textbook featured a darker, altered version with a covered torso. This change sparked a debate about the misrepresentation of historically significant cultural artifacts. NCERT's action to restore the original image addresses these concerns, ensuring the integrity of the historical representation within educational materials.