Darwin must stay in Indian school textbooks

Introduction:

• In 2018, Satyapal Singh, the former Union Minister of Human Resource Development, stated that Darwin’s theory of evolution was scientifically incorrect and should be removed from Indian school and college curricula. The following year, Nageswara Rao Gollapalli, the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University, claimed at the 106th Indian Science Congress that the “theory of Dashavatara” explains evolution better than Darwin’s theory. This led to a lot of controversy. Recently, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has dropped Darwin’s theory from the examination syllabus for Class 9 and 10 students in the academic year 2021-22, and now the entire section on evolution has been removed from the Class 10 textbooks.

Importance of Darwin’s theory:

• Darwin’s theory is one of the most well-established theories in science, explaining the origin of human beings and all other forms of life in the world.
• Darwin’s theory dispels the belief that an “intelligent designer” (read: God) built them the way they are and put them in their place.
• Depriving students of this information, especially those who do not take up biology after Class 10, is “dangerous” as it is necessary to understand the origins of life on earth.

Changes in teaching Darwin’s theory:

• The approach to teaching Darwin’s theory should change.
• While it is important to include Darwin’s theory in textbooks, the story of a lone Englishman swimming against the tide of his times is insufficient.
• Before Darwin set out on his journey, the captain of the ship handed him a copy of geologist Charles Lyell’s Principles of Geology. Lyell’s theories of gradual geological change greatly influenced Darwin’s work.
• Darwin was also influenced by Thomas Malthus’ ideas of competition in an environment with limited resources. Only those living beings survive that carry variations that give them an edge over others.
• The impact that social beliefs of his times had on how Darwin looked at the natural world should also be taught.

Use of Darwin’s theory:

• The use of Darwin’s theory, both by others and Darwin himself, should be included in the teaching of his theory.
• Herbert Spencer’s idea of “survival of the fittest” coalesced into a philosophy called “social Darwinism” that fuelled eugenics in the late 19th century.
• Darwin claimed that men have evolved to be naturally more intelligent since they have had to continuously use their “mental faculties” to hunt for food and defend “their females” and offspring.

Conclusion:

• It is important to understand the origins of life on earth and the scientific theories that explain it. The removal of Darwin’s theory from the examination syllabus and textbooks is a cause for concern. It is crucial to teach Darwin’s theory in a more comprehensive manner, including the influences that shaped it and its use, to provide students with a better understanding of science in both the historical and contemporary world.