A new controversy has arisen among historians and scholars regarding the depiction of the Vedic period in the new sixth-grade history textbook published by the Maharashtra State Textbook Bureau and Curriculum Revision Board (Balbharati). The new edition presents the diet of people from the Vedic period entirely as 'plant-based' (vegetarian), and mentions of meat consumption have been excluded.
Furthermore, an important passage from the old book, which explained how the Varna system later transformed into a hereditary caste system leading to social inequality, was removed. Historians and researchers of ancient India have criticized these changes, arguing that the new curriculum presents an overly positive and harmonious picture of Vedic society, ignoring complex socio-cultural historical evidence.
The old sixth-grade history textbook clearly stated that people of the Vedic period consumed both plant-based food and meat. In contrast, the new edition names grains, milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, and vegetables as the main components of the diet, concluding a predominantly plant-based diet. Historians, citing numerous sources from ancient Indian literature, assert that meat consumption was common during that era.
Evidence from Vedic Literature: Professor Bahulkar, a specialist in Sanskrit sciences, documented written evidence of the preparation and consumption of various types of meat in Vedic literature in his study of food history in ancient and medieval India. His research includes mentions of using beef, goat, sheep, buffalo, and horse meat, as well as fish consumption.
View from Savitribai Phule University: Professor Shraddha Kumbhgodkar, head of the university's history department, stated that Vedic texts contain explicit references to the consumption of various types of meat both during rituals (Yajna) and in daily life.
Balbharati's Arguments: Shubhangana Atre, chairperson of the Balbharati history committee for classes 6 to 8 and an archaeologist, acknowledged that meat was indeed part of the Vedic diet. However, she argued that agricultural development made plant-based food the primary element of the people's diet. According to Atre, the authors decided to focus on cultural development rather than a detailed description of nutrition. She also clarified that the topic of meat is discussed in the chapter dedicated to the Harappan civilization.
The most significant and serious change is the depiction of the Varna system. The old book explained that the four varnas—Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra—were initially linked to professions and livelihoods but gradually became based on birth. This very change subsequently gave rise to the caste system and social inequality. In the new edition, this connection is completely eliminated. It now states that Vedic society is divided into four varnas, assigned specific duties and social positions, and that societal relationships are depicted as filled with 'cooperation and affection.'
Professor Shraddha Kumbhgodkar noted that removing the transition from varna to hereditary caste and the associated inequality deprives the historical discourse of a very important part. She cited examples from the Rigveda describing conflicts between different groups. Kumbhgodkar countered that portraying Vedic society as entirely 'harmonious' contradicts historical evidence, pointing to battles over cattle and the 'Dasharajya Yuga' (war of ten kings) as proof that Vedic society was not free from conflict.
Shubhangana Atre, chairperson of the Balbharati history committee, defended the decision to simplify the educational material for younger students. Her argument is that introducing the concept of hereditary caste to children at such an early age might affect their psyche before they can grasp the broader historical context. She added that students will study this complex social structure in higher grades.
Professor Kumbhgodkar emphasized that school history textbooks play a crucial role in shaping students' understanding of the past, so inconvenient or contradictory evidence cannot be selectively removed from them. She insisted that the interpretation of history must be based on evidence, not on attempts to glorify or denigrate a particular period.
Will changes occur in other books: This sixth-grade textbook is part of a larger process of implementing the revised curriculum based on NCERT in the Maharashtra school education system. New books were introduced this year for classes 2, 3, 4, and 6, while the first-grade book was implemented last year. Updated textbooks for the remaining classes will be rolled out in phases over the next three years.
