Textbook Translation Error Sparks Concern in Hamirpur Schools

Hamirpur | April 30
A serious error has been detected in the English-medium version of the Class VI textbook “Himachal Ki Lok Sanskriti aur Yog”, raising concerns among educators and prompting demands for an immediate review.
The issue came to light when Vijay Heer, state general secretary of the Government TGT Arts Association, pointed out a glaring mistranslation in the book. The district name Kinnaur has reportedly been incorrectly translated as “transgender (Kinnar)”—a mistake believed to be the result of automated or machine translation.
The error appears in a multiple-choice question related to the formation and merger of districts. Among the options listed—Bilaspur, Kangra, Kullu, Dalhousie—the term “transgender” has been included in place of Kinnaur. In contrast, the Hindi-medium version of the same textbook correctly mentions “किन्नौर.”
Educators have also flagged discrepancies in page numbering, indicating broader quality control issues in the English edition.
The TGT Arts Association has urged authorities to carry out an immediate review and correction of all English-medium textbooks to prevent confusion among students. “Such mistakes not only misinform but also undermine the credibility of educational content,” Heer stated.
The incident has sparked a wider conversation on the reliability of machine translations in academic materials and the need for thorough human verification before publication.