NCERT Withdraws Altered Image Of Indus Valley ‘Dancing Girl’ After Backlash

An altered image of a well-known ancient artefact, the bronze “Dancing Girl” from Mohenjo-daro, has been removed from a class 9 school textbook following strong criticism from historians and educators.

The artefact in question is a widely recognised figure from the Indus Valley Civilisation, depicting a young girl posed with one hand on her hip.

In a recently published Class 9 textbook, however, the sculpture’s torso had been obscured with dark shading, concealing its anatomical details.

Scholars had sharply criticised the move, accusing the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), which developed the textbook, of distorting a historically significant artefact.

In response, authorities clarified that the original, unaltered image has been reinstated in the digital edition, and future printed copies will also feature the correct version.