A PLACE IN THE HISTORY PAGES

TEXTBOOKS are often foundational for students, and just as often, they are forgettable.

- DIYA MARIA GEORGE

But the best ones do more than stating facts; they spark curiosity, invite questions, and encourage imagination. In Kerala, the new Class 8 Arts textbook by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) does just that. Covering theatre, sculpture, music, cinema, and dance, it speaks directly to children, urging them to engage with the art forms around them. More importantly, it features real people who embody these arts—including Tamil Nadu-born trans artiste Negha S, the first trans woman to be included in a Kerala school textbook.

"When I saw the textbook, I was really moved. Because years ago, I had gone through a lot without anyone knowing my name, without being seen or acknowledged. Now, to be in a textbook, where students will read and learn about it, it feels very emotional," says Negha.

She won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Actress in 2022 for her performance in 'Antharam,' a Malayalam film. It is this achievement, among others, that finds a place in the Arts textbook, a decision that Satheesh Kumar K, a research officer with SCERT, says was a natural progression of the board's inclusive vision.