Editor,
Prior to 2007 it was detected in a textbook of Social Studies that the rivers of southern India which flow into the Arabian Sea were shown to be flowing into the Bay of Bengal and vice versa. Fortunately that textbook was withdrawn, ostensibly, because of the above error! However, recently some errors have also been detected in the current textbook of Social Studies prescribed for use as a textbook in Class X by Meghalaya Board of School Education, Tura vide Notification No. 205, dt. Tura, Nov 13, 2007. In this new textbook a portion of the passage on the location of Meghalaya (page G-75) reads thus: “The state of Meghalaya is located close the Tropic of Cancer, between Latitude 20 degree 1 ‘N & & 26 degree 5’ N, Longtitude 85 degree 49’ E & 92 degree 53’ E” The above quoted statement is fallacious and contradictory and it is surprising to note that the erroneous statement is still found in the textbook even after it has been “revised and updated in Dec 2016”. The statement “Meghalaya is located close to the Tropic of Cancer” may be taken as correct. But the location of Meghalaya with reference to the above quoted latitudes and longitudes is definitely incorrect. According to the above latitudinallongitudinal presentation, the size of Meghalaya does not merely confine within the limit of “22, 429 sq. km” but extends far beyond covering the whole of Bangladesh and West Bengal plus some other adjoining areas and a portion of the Bay of Bengal (cfr. Oxford school Atlas 33rd edition). Hence the Tropic of Cancer (23 ½ degree N) is no longer “close” to but passes right through and divides Meghalaya almost into two equal halves and Meghalaya is also no longer a “land-locked” state. The interwoven presentation is, indeed, intriguing, puzzling and contradicting. It is not known whether there are some other errors in the textbooks. However, one glaring error is enough to cause harm and damage. If error had been detected in the past and the then textbook had been done away with, it is not understood why MBOSE has not taken precaution before prescribing the current textbook of Social Studies! Damage had been done and is still being done, and the sufferers are our poor students. It is hoped the authorities will take immediate corrective measures.
Yours etc
. AW. Khonglam
Shillong-1