‘Ugly truth was never hidden’: Yogendra Yadav counters Dharmendra Pradhan, says Emergency was already in school textbooks

Political activist and Swaraj India founder Yogendra Yadav has joined the debate over the portrayal of the 1975 Emergency in school textbooks, rejecting Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's claims that previous governments had sought to hide the period from students.

Responding to Pradhan's remarks, Yadav said the "ugly truth" about the Emergency had never been hidden and was already included in NCERT textbooks taught in schools across the country.

"The ugly truth was never hidden. The Emergency was already there in school textbooks," Yadav said, challenging the government's narrative on the issue.

Row over NCERT textbooks

The exchange comes amid a political debate over changes to school curricula and the representation of key historical events, including the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi between 1975 and 1977.

Earlier, Dharmendra Pradhan had defended the government's educational reforms, arguing that students should be made aware of what he described as one of the darkest chapters in India's democratic history. He accused previous administrations of downplaying or omitting important details related to the Emergency.

Yadav, however, disputed that claim, maintaining that NCERT textbooks had long discussed the Emergency, including its impact on democratic institutions, civil liberties and political opposition.

Debate over historical interpretation

The disagreement reflects a broader political debate over how history should be presented in educational material.

Supporters of the government's approach argue that textbooks should provide greater emphasis on the constitutional and political consequences of the Emergency. Critics, meanwhile, contend that the event has already been covered in academic curricula and accuse the government of using history for political messaging.

Emergency remains politically sensitive

The Emergency, declared on June 25, 1975, remains one of the most debated periods in independent India's history. During the 21-month period, civil liberties were suspended, opposition leaders were jailed, press censorship was imposed and elections were postponed.

Nearly five decades later, the subject continues to feature prominently in political discourse, with both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Opposition parties citing the period to reinforce competing narratives on democracy and governance.

The latest exchange between Pradhan and Yadav is expected to add momentum to the ongoing debate over history education and the interpretation of one of India's most controversial political chapters.