The National Council of Educational Research and Training's (NCERT) Class 6 R3 Kannada textbook has become the centre of a controversy in Karnataka, with educationists, writers, and activists raising objections to its title, content, and representation of the state's cultural diversity.
The textbook, titled 'Krishna', has drawn criticism amid the ongoing debate over the implementation of the three-language policy for Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) students. Critics have questioned the naming of the textbook, the emphasis on vegetarian food in lessons related to nutrition, and the absence of content reflecting Karnataka's regional literature, folklore, and social life.
The development comes as CBSE rolls out the three-language policy (R1, R2, R3) for Classes 6 to 10 from the 2026-27 academic session under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.
Objections Over Textbook Title and Mythological Content
Development educationist Niranjanaradhya V.P. strongly criticised the textbook and expressed concern over what he described as the growing influence of mythological themes in educational material.
"It is shocking to see the R3 Kannada textbook for Class 6 released by NCERT. It is dangerous to use books that are supposed to be designed for children's learning as a weapon for political and cultural oppression. As part of the imposition of Indian Knowledge Heritage of NEP-2020, the trend of infusing mythological virtues in education in NCERT books is condemnable. Naming the textbook for Class 6 as Krishna is an attempt to saffronise the textbooks," he alleged.
The remarks have added another dimension to the ongoing debate over curriculum design and educational content under the new policy framework.
Criticism Over 'Balanced Diet' Definition
Another major point of contention is the treatment of food and nutrition in the textbook. According to critics, earlier textbooks referred to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets while discussing balanced nutrition. However, the revised Class 6 Kannada textbook defines a balanced diet as one consisting of milk, greens, vegetables, fruits, and nuts.
The accompanying illustration reportedly features foods such as ragi mudde, roti, rice, vegetables, milk, and fruits. Niranjanaradhya V.P. alleged that the textbook excludes food habits followed by a large section of Karnataka's population.
"While talking about food in the Health is Wealth lesson, sattvic food is being discussed. There are crores of people in Karnataka who eat pork, fish, eggs, chicken, mutton. This is a technique to deliberately ignore non-vegetarian food. This is not education, it is cultural terrorism," he alleged.
Concerns Over Missing Regional Culture and Literature
Questions have also been raised regarding the representation of Karnataka's regional diversity in the textbook. Umesh G. Gangavadi, State President of the School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC), alleged that the textbook does not adequately reflect the cultural and social realities of different regions of the state.
"The folklore, literature, and life of the coastal, northern Karnataka, Malnad, and old Mysore areas are missing. There are no activities, texts, pictures, and stories that are appropriate for the curiosity of a Class 6 child, age-appropriate activities," he said.
According to him, Karnataka's cultural identity is rooted in the contributions of literary and social icons rather than a single religious symbol. "The identity of Karnataka lies in the ideology of writers such as Pampa, Kuvempu, Karanta, and Basavanna, and not in the name of Krishna," he said.
Writer Demands Withdrawal of Lesson
Writer S.G. Siddaramaiah also criticised the textbook and called for the withdrawal of the lesson.
Reiterating his opposition to the implementation of the three-language policy for CBSE students, he questioned the use of a deity's name as the title of a school textbook.
"We are against the implementation of the three-language policy for CBSE students. Meanwhile, it is condemnable to keep the name of God as the title of the textbook and to impose vegetarianism on children through the textbooks as part of the political agenda of the Union government," he said.
Debate Over Curriculum and Cultural Representation
The controversy has reignited discussions around curriculum development, cultural representation, and educational content in school textbooks.
Critics argue that school textbooks should reflect Karnataka's linguistic, cultural, and regional diversity while remaining age-appropriate for students. The objections raised by educationists and writers have brought renewed attention to how history, culture, literature, food practices, and social realities are represented in educational material.
With the implementation of the NEP 2020 framework underway, the NCERT Class 6 Kannada textbook controversy is likely to remain a key talking point in Karnataka's education landscape in the coming weeks.
