Odisha school textbook prints Bollywood song, igniting education department backlash

A class‑5 English textbook used in government schools in Odisha was found to contain the lyrics of the 1999 Bollywood song “Nimbooda‑Nimbooda” from *Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam*, performed by actress Aishwarya Rai. The error was spotted by parents who flipped through the book, and images of the pages quickly spread on social media, prompting a wave of criticism.

The incident has raised questions about the editorial and quality‑control procedures of the state's textbook publishing process and has put the Odisha education department under scrutiny. Officials have not issued an official statement yet, while parents and education experts are demanding a recall of the faulty books and a review of the approval system.

The controversy highlights concerns over the suitability of content for primary‑school curricula and the accountability of government agencies responsible for educational materials.