Class 6 book depicts mosque as pollutant, triggers controversy

New Delhi: An outrage has sparked on social media over an image in a Class 6 textbook taught in ICSE schools depicting a “mosque” as a source of noise pollution.

The matter has prompted an apology from the publisher and the promise that the picture would be removed in subsequent editions. The ICSE, however, maintained the board did not publish or prescribe textbooks, and that schools have to deal with the issue.

The science textbook, published by Selina Publishers, has a chapter on the causes of ‘noise pollution’. The picture, shared widely on social media, shows a train, car, plane and a mosque — all with symbols depicting loud sound, next to a man grimacing and shutting his ears.

Netizens have now launched an online petition demanding the book be withdrawn. The outcry drew an apology from the publisher.

Earlier this year, excerpts from a Class 12 physical education textbook taught in some CBSE schools had kicked up a furore for defining a figure measurement of 36-24-36 as the “best body shape for females”. Similarly, a Class 4 environmental science textbook suggested killing a kitten as part of an experiment, which went viral on social media, forcing the publisher to withdraw it from the market.

While ICSE board officials were not available for comment, the publisher has apologised for the image. “This is to inform all concerned that we will be changing the picture in subsequent editions of the book,” publisher Hemant Gupta said on social media sites.

Mr Gupta said the diagram on page 202 of its publication, Integrated Science, consisted of “a structure resembling a portion of a fort and other noise producing objects in a noisy city”. “We do apologise if it has hurt the sentiments of anyone,” he said.

In April, Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam had stoked a controversy, when he said he was woken up by the sound of “azaan” — early morning calls for prayers from mosques-amplified by loudspeakers .