Who is a Fellow Indian? Towards a Dialogue Between 2006 and 2024 Editions of Grade 6 NCERT Social Studies

The 2024 grade 6 NCERT social studies textbook significantly differs in its interpretation of nationalism from the previous generation of social studies textbooks. The new textbook emphasises an ancient territorial definition of India in comparison with the older textbooks, which went with how the 1952 Constitution of India saw who is an Indian. The new textbook version of nationalism also largely ignores social inequality and the role of justice. This article explores whether it is possible to have a dialogue between the respective discourses in which the 2024 and 2006 textbooks are embedded. One possible starting point for the conversation can be that the 2024 textbook’s definition of India actually differs from that of several of its ideologues like Savarkar, Upadhyaya and Madhav, who seem to be more in line with the previous textbooks’ definition of India. Perhaps it is still possible to discuss which version of nationalism can lead to greater fraternity and justice in India.