New Delhi: After Kerala education minister V. Sivankutty criticised Hindi titles being given to English textbooks, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has defended the move.

The NCERT has said that language textbooks have been named after musical instruments and classical ragas because these elements of “India’s rich musical heritage are common across all linguistic and cultural traditions of the country,” reported Indian Express.

Earlier, Sivankutty had said on Monday (April 14) that it was absolutely wrong to alter English titles used for decades and NCERT’s move to give Hindi titles to English-medium textbooks is “against federal principles and Constitutional values.”

“Kerala, like other non-Hindi speaking states, is committed to protecting linguistic diversity and giving priority to regional cultural freedom. The titles of the textbooks are not mere names; they shape the perception and imagination of children. English medium students deserve English titles. Education should not be an instrument of imposition but of empowerment and consensus,” Sivankutty had said.

The new English textbook for class 6 (introduced last year) and the new one for class 7 introduced by NCERT are titled Poorvi. The old class 4 English textbook was called Marigold, while the new one is Santoor.

“The naming of language and other textbooks has long been a tradition in NCERT, and the use of terms derived from Indian classical music is meaningful. These terms are neither translatable nor replaceable; they carry with them deep cultural and linguistic associations, helping children identify more strongly with their Indian heritage. This practice ensures that students begin their language journey with familiarity, pride, and a sense of belonging,” said the NCERT in its response.

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