Maharashtra history textbook says vedic period diet was plant-based, removes caste reference

The Maharashtra state board has recently introduced a new Class 6 history textbook that states the diet of people during the Vedic period was primarily plant-based, removing a previous mention of meat consumption as part of their diet. This change aimed to present a more cooperative and affectionate Vedic society, free from caste-based inequality.

However, historians argue that such depictions are not historically accurate. The textbook initially claimed that both vegetables and meat were part of the Vedic diet, but the new version stated that their diet consisted only of grains, milk, curd, ghee, honey, and vegetables. Evidence of meat-eating during the Vedic period comes from various scholarly texts, with meat preparations being customarily cooked for guests and in ceremonies.

The inclusion of meat in the Vedic diet is also supported by archaeological and archaeological evidence. Concerning the caste system, the previous version of the textbook mentioned that varnas initially began as occupation-based roles, which later evolved into birth-based castes, leading to societal inequality. The new textbook, however, states that the Vedic society was structured into four Varnas and people interacted with a spirit of cooperation and affection, highlighting that every individual held a specific responsibility and status within society.

Historians argue that the new textbook's description of the Vedic society is inconsistent with historical records, as it downplays evidence of meat consumption, inequality, and slavery.