Odisha (Showbiz Desk): A major controversy has erupted in India’s Odisha state after Bollywood film songs were included in an eighth-grade textbook.
Following the circulation of textbook pages on social media, parents, teachers, and education experts have raised serious concerns over the curriculum, demanding clarification from the authorities.
According to Indian media reports, the controversy centers on the Class 8 Art Education book titled “Kirti”, developed under the National Education Policy 2020. One chapter includes the full lyrics of the popular 1999 film song “Nimbooda Nimbooda” from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
The song, picturized on Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan, has been presented in the textbook as a Rajasthani folk song, despite being a Bollywood film track.
Reports also revealed that another film song, “Rind Posh Maal” from the movie Mission Kashmir, has been included in the same textbook.
The issue has triggered strong reactions on social media, with users questioning why Bollywood songs are being included in the curriculum instead of local folk heritage in a culturally rich state like Odisha.
The controversy escalated further after it emerged that the new textbooks contain a total of 1,678 errors, drawing widespread criticism of the state government.
In response, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Education Minister Nityananda Gond took immediate notice and suspended senior officials of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), while ordering an inquiry against six other officials.
The state government has also formed a special inquiry committee and recommended the creation of a “Quality Assurance Cell” to ensure accuracy and standards in future educational content.