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India Reverses Textbook Censorship of Ancient Nude Art
16 Jun
Summary
- A nude artifact's image was covered in an Indian school textbook.
- The altered image sparked backlash from historians and educationists.
- The original uncensored image has now been restored in digital versions.
An Indian school textbook has reversed its decision to censor a nude ancient artifact after facing strong criticism. The "Dancing Girl" sculpture, a famous piece from the Indus Valley civilisation, had its torso obscured with dark shading in a grade nine textbook.
Historians and educationists accused the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) of disfiguring the iconic bronze figurine. In response to the backlash, NCERT officials announced that the original, uncensored image has been restored in the digital version of the textbook. New print editions will also feature the unedited photograph.
The NCERT has not provided an official reason for the modification, but media reports suggest it may stem from concerns about nudity. The "Dancing Girl" has been a standard inclusion in Indian school curricula for decades without previous censorship.
The sculpture, discovered at Mohenjo-daro, is renowned for its artistic value and evidence of the civilization's advanced metallurgical knowledge. It is currently housed at the National Museum in Delhi.
