Kerala Education Minister Slams NCERT Over Hindi Names in English Textbooks: ‘Violation of Common Logic’

In a move that’s sparked a storm across India, the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) proposed using Hindi names for subjects in English-medium school textbooks—and even suggested replacing the term “India” with “Bharat.”

Kerala’s Education Minister V. Sivankutty wasn’t having it. He called the recommendation a “violation of common logic,” questioning the reasoning behind using Hindi in schools where the medium of instruction is English. His strong reaction reflects what many educators and parents feel across non-Hindi speaking states—confusion, frustration, and concern.

What’s the Issue?

The NCERT’s proposal aims to rename subjects like “Political Science” to “Rajniti Vigyan” and “Science” to “Vigyan,” even in English-medium textbooks. While “Bharat” and “India” are both constitutionally correct, the sudden shift to using only one term—and that too in Hindi—has raised eyebrows.

For students and teachers in states like Kerala, this is more than a name change. It introduces a language barrier in classrooms where Hindi isn’t widely spoken or understood.

Kerala Hits Back

Minister Sivankutty directly wrote to the Prime Minister, opposing the move and calling it undemocratic since states weren’t even consulted. He emphasized that education is a shared responsibility between the Centre and states, and such unilateral decisions only cause confusion.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also joined in, calling the change part of a political agenda to rewrite history and impose a one-size-fits-all cultural identity on a diverse nation.

Why It Matters

English-medium schools exist for clear communication and consistent instruction. Introducing Hindi terms disrupts that clarity. Students might not understand the new subject titles, and teachers might not be equipped to explain them.

Plus, this change isn’t just linguistic—it’s political. Critics argue it’s part of a broader effort to push a Hindi-centric narrative in education, ignoring the multilingual nature of India.

What’s Next?

Kerala plans to review the changes independently and may choose to reject them. The state has a history of publishing its own supplementary textbooks when it disagrees with NCERT content—and it looks ready to do that again.

As the debate grows, one thing is clear: education isn’t just about books—it’s about identity, inclusion, and the right to learn in a language you understand.