Pluralism and Transformative Social Studies “Us and Them”: Challenges for the Indian Classroom

Abstract

The Indian subcontinent is unique in its pulsating diversity of faiths, languages, and cultures, challenging the educationist’s creativity and commitment to pluralism within the classroom. India has 22 official languages and dozens of other dialects. It is a vast region with interwoven and competing traditions and beliefs. The transaction within the classroom, especially through textbooks, poses a great challenge for the educator. Hegemonizing tendencies have painted a monochromatic vision of the past that is influenced by a political agenda for the present and future. This monochromatic vision has consolidated within history and social-studies textbooks and, especially, in teaching. In a country that is the size of many continents, the vision and narrative reflected in the history and social-studies texts need to negotiate a delicate balance between regional and national histories. A lived experiment with pluralism can be seen in the multiple cultures of the subcontinent, but it is absent from its teaching methodology and textbooks. Despite sharp hegemonizing tendencies, however, India continues at a fundamental level to celebrate its own diversity.