Class XII textbook definition on female figure sparks row
Excerpts from a Class XII Physical Education textbook defining 36-24-36 as the “best body shape for females” have created an outrage on social media with critics demanding that the text be withdrawn.
The incident comes against the backdrop of a raging debate on lack of scrutiny of the curriculum and content taught in schools.
The book titled “Health and Physical Education” written by Dr VK Sharma and published by Delhi-based New Saraswati House, is taught at various schools affiliated to CBSE.
CBSE, however, clarified that it “does not recommend any books by private publishers in its schools”.
“36-24-36 shape of females is considered the best. That is why in Miss World or Miss Universe competitions, such type of shape is also taken into consideration,” read an excerpt from the chapter “Physiology and Sports” which is going viral.
Various Twitter users shared picture of the mentioned text and demanded that the publishers withdraw the content and schools replace the book in their curriculum.
In a statement, the CBSE said, “Schools are expected to exercise extreme care while selecting books of private publishers and the content must be scrutinised to preclude any objectionable content that hurts the feeling of any class, community, gender, religious group. Schools have to take responsibility of the content of the books prescribed by them.”
This, however, is not the first incident about improper content being found in textbooks taught in CBSE schools in recent months.
Excerpts from a class IV environmental science textbook that suggested students to “kill a kitten” as part of an experiment had gone viral on social media, forcing the publisher to withdraw it from the market last month. women. “You can protect cows and women are facing atrocities,” she added.
BJP member Roopa Ganguly said she too was a woman and “was beaten up by 17 goons of TMC in front of policemen. The chief minister who is also a woman should answer this”.
In the Lok Sabha too, the BJP youth leader’s bounty offer was condemned by all. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said there have been many unpleasant incidents in the political discourse in recent past and everyone must work together to improve it.
Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress said, “A strong message should go from the government against such behaviour and action must be taken against the guilty.”
MANIPUR HAS BEEN SEVERELY AFFECTED BY THE PRESENCE OF SEVERAL SECESSIONIST GROUPS
A Muslim cleric, known for announcing fatwas against political leaders, has offered ₹22 lakh for Yogesh Varshney’s head.
“Mamata Banerjee is our respected leader and I consider her as my sister. I will pay ₹22 lakh to anyone who brings me the head of the BJP leader. It is expected that fascist RSS-BJP will be speaking the language of hoodlums,” said Nur-ur Rehman Barkati, imam of Kolkata’s Tipu Sultan Shahi Mosque. forces were posted in Manipur.
“If the position maintained by the impugned order continues it may, one day, be well-nigh impossible to maintain peace and security,” the Centre said.
Indian army has to take quick decisions that cannot be dissected nor can be judicially reviewed like any other murder appeal. The SC verdict, Centre said, would be detrimental to the morale of the Armed Forces, which may result in adverse consequences to serving and retired army officers who spent a lifetime risking their lives for the nation.
The North-eastern region has also been infested by insurgency and militant groups from the China and Myanmar region. Of the seven N-E states Manipur has been the most severely affected by secessionist groups, the Centre told the Supreme Court.