Kerala’s Minister for General Education and Employment, V Sivankutty, has criticised NCERT’s decision to rename English-medium textbooks with Hindi titles. He called the move “a grave illogicality” and accused the Centre of cultural imposition.
The minister said it was wrong to change the English titles that have been used for decades. These names, he added, were chosen to respect India’s linguistic diversity and to nurture sensitivity in children. Replacing them with Hindi titles like Mridang, Santoor, or Poorvi was against this spirit.
“Textbook titles are not just names,” Sivankutty said. “They shape how children think and imagine. English-medium students deserve English titles.”
He argued that the decision was part of a larger pattern by the Centre to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states. He stressed that Kerala, like other states, is committed to protecting linguistic diversity and regional cultural freedom.
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The minister also said that the move violated federal principles and constitutional values. He urged NCERT to reconsider and withdraw the changes.
“Education should empower, not impose. It must be built on consensus, not coercion,” he said. He called on other states to unite against such steps.
Recently, NCERT published new names for books in Classes 1 to 6. Class 1 and 2 books are now called Mridang, while Class 3’s is named Santoor. The Class 6 English book, earlier called Honeysuckle, is now Poorvi.
These changes have reignited India’s long-standing language debate. Critics say the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 pushes for Hindi in ways that disadvantage non-Hindi speakers.
Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, MK Stalin, has also spoken out against Hindi imposition. He claimed the Centre withheld ₹2,500 crore in school funds after Tamil Nadu rejected NEP’s three-language formula.
Both Kerala and Tamil Nadu view these steps as central overreach. They believe that language and education must remain within the rights of states.
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