Controversy Surrounds NCERT's Depiction of Mohenjo-Daro's Dancing Girl
Altered Representation in Textbook Raises Eyebrows
NCERT's Class 9 textbook depiction of the "Dancing Girl" with a covered torso (left) and the original bronze sculpture from Mohenjo-daro (right).
New Delhi, Jun 15: The renowned bronze sculpture known as the "Dancing Girl" from Mohenjo-daro has been controversially illustrated with a covered torso in the latest NCERT Class 9 arts textbook, prompting discussions about how this significant archaeological piece is introduced to students.
This image is featured in the introductory chapter titled "History of Arts" in NCERT's new arts education textbook, Madhurima.
In this textbook version, the figurine's torso appears altered, with shading that obscures the anatomical details visible in the original artifact, unlike the depiction in the Class 6 Social Science textbook, which closely resembles the actual bronze figure.
Padma Shri Michel Danino, who led the development committee for the Class 6 Social Science books, mentioned that he was informed the figurine was deemed "not age-appropriate" for younger students.
"This pertains to our Grade 6 Social Science textbook. The explanation I received was that the image of the Dancing Girl was inappropriate for that age group. Our team disagreed; we consulted with Class 6 teachers, and they indicated there was never an issue with the Dancing Girl," Danino stated.
He expressed that the belief that nudity is unsuitable reflects an outdated Victorian perspective, especially in discussions about decolonizing Indian education.
Upon seeing the altered image in the Class 9 textbook, Danino's initial reaction was one of disbelief.
"If the Dancing Girl cannot be presented authentically in a chapter on Indian art, we face a significant issue," he remarked.
Danino emphasized that the modification distorts the original artifact's representation.
"This alteration misrepresents the original artifact, similar to how the Church's addition of a fig leaf to Michelangelo's David misrepresented that masterpiece," he noted.
Discussing the importance of the figurine, Danino highlighted that archaeologists have various interpretations, and its context remains largely unknown.
However, he pointed out that a similar akimbo posture has been found on at least two potsherds from the Harappan site of Bhirrana in Rajasthan, indicating it likely held significant cultural value, possibly artistic.
He criticized the practice of altering historical artifact images.
"Unless such alterations are clearly indicated as reconstructions of partial artifacts, modifying these images creates a fake artifact. It reflects a serious misunderstanding of how historical artifacts should be represented," Danino asserted.
The chapter identifies the Dancing Girl as a bronze figurine from Mohenjo-daro, dating back to approximately 2600 BCE.
The textbook states that the figurine was crafted using the "lost-wax technique," which is still practiced in regions of West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.
"This sculpture showcases a posture with one knee bent, one hand on the waist, and a slightly raised chin," the textbook explains.
The chapter includes a discussion prompt asking students to interpret what the figure's pose conveys. Another activity encourages students to replicate the posture and sketch it while envisioning different foot positions.
The Dancing Girl, unearthed at Mohenjo-daro, is one of the most recognized artifacts linked to the Indus Valley Civilization.
As of the time of this report, NCERT had not publicly addressed the differences in the representation of the figurine across the two textbooks.