Remember the time school textbooks were treated like the gospel truth?

Here's how a proposed text book describes the modern girl. 'The modern girl is no longer shy, obedient and homely creature as she used to be... She claims for her rights as she wants to enjoy life like the boys. She is more a self-centered creature than a loving daughter or sympathetic sister,' claims Current Essays and Letters, written by Purabi Chakraborty.

The book is intended to be part of the syllabus for the Central Board of Secondary Education, Indian Certificate of Secondary Education and Indian School Certificate. Chakrabory holds a master's degree in English, a bachelor's degree in education and a diploma in teaching English.