Odisha textbooks include Bollywood song lyrics, sparking controversy

Lyrics from Bollywood films, including "Nimbooda Nimbooda" (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam) and "Bumbro" (Mission Kashmir), were printed in Odisha state school textbooks as examples of folk songs. The same textbooks also featured other songs such as "Rind Posh Maal" and the Odia folk song "Raja Doli". The errors were highlighted after more than 1,600 mistakes were discovered in newly issued Class 1‑8 textbooks.

Education officials said corrected copies would be sent to all government schools, and correction sheets have already been distributed to teachers. The state’s School and Mass Education Minister announced an inquiry, and protests were staged in Berhampur demanding a full withdrawal of the flawed books. Several politicians, including MP Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, criticized the oversight on social media.