Days after The Quint pointed out that a map in a class 12 Political Science textbook of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) depicted Aksai Chin as part of China, the educational organisation has decided to replace the map.
In a statement, the organisation said that the map – which figured on page 56 – was not a map of India, but of East and South East Asia. It also said the map will be replaced with a map of Southeast Asia in the reprint edition.
The ‘Contemporary World Politics’ textbook was first printed in 2007 and subsequently reprinted. It contains a map showing Aksai Chin, coloured in the same yellow as China. The map is “Courtesy of the University of Texas, libraries. The University of Texas at Austin”.
“The Chapter 4, ‘Alternative Centres of Power’, focuses on the European Union, ASEAN and China. The map which figures on page 56 is not a map of India, but a map of East and South East Asia. It was prepared by the University of Texas. The source of the map was mentioned at the bottom. The map states that “Boundary representation is not necessarily authoritative,” the NCERT said.
Aksai Chin has been under the unlawful occupation of China. In the map, the border between India and China, near Aksai Chin, is marked with dotted lines to indicate the dispute. The Indian claim over the area is mentioned.
“Later in this chapter, the topic under the heading 'India - China Relations' refers to competing territorial claims in Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin. Aksai Chin is shown as an integral part of India in the map of India and its neighbours on page 149. However, the map on page 56 will be replaced with a map of Southeast Asia in the reprint edition,” NCERT added in a statement.
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