NEW DELHI (Web Desk) – A fresh controversy has erupted in the Indian state of Odisha after a Class 8 textbook included the lyrics of the popular Bollywood song "Nimbooda Nimbooda", drawing criticism from parents, educators, and social media users.
According to Indian media reports, the song appears in the Class 8 Art Education textbook titled Kirti, which was prepared under India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The textbook reproduces the full lyrics of "Nimbooda Nimbooda" from the 1999 Bollywood film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, describing it as a Rajasthani folk song. The song was famously picturised on Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan in the blockbuster film.
Reports also said another Bollywood track, "Rind Posh Maal" from the film Mission Kashmir, was included in the same textbook.
The issue gained widespread attention after images of the textbook circulated on social media, where many questioned why Bollywood film songs had been included instead of highlighting Odisha's own rich cultural and folk heritage.
The controversy intensified after reports revealed that the newly introduced textbooks contained 1,678 errors across various subjects, triggering criticism of the state's textbook preparation process.
In response, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Education Minister Nityananda Gond ordered immediate action, suspending senior officials of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). Authorities also ordered formal investigations against six additional officials.
The state government has since established a special inquiry committee to examine the issue. The committee has also recommended setting up a Quality Assurance Cell to strengthen the review process for future textbooks and prevent similar errors.