'Which freedom fighter received most severe punishment?' Kerala orders probe into Savarkar quiz

File photo: Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

NEW DELHI: A political row has erupted in Kerala over a school quiz question that described Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as the freedom fighter who received the “most severe punishment” from the British, prompting general education minister N Samsudheen to order an inquiry.The “Freedom Quiz” was conducted on August 6 for lower primary students in schools in the Kasaragod, Kumbla and Manjeshwar sub-districts, according to news agency PTI.The disputed question asked: “Who is the freedom fighter that received the most severe punishment from the British?” Savarkar was given as the answer.The minister’s office said Samsudheen has directed the director of general education to establish who prepared and conducted the quiz and take stringent action against those responsible.

According to the minister’s office, the quiz was not included in the activity calendar of either the Social Science Club or the General Education Department. Neither had authorised anyone to independently prepare the questions or conduct the competition.”The person who included the historically incorrect question holds a prejudiced view,” the minister’s office said, adding that the Education Director had been instructed to identify those responsible and take strict action.As per PTI, teachers associated with the Social Science Club had prepared the questionnaire.The controversy has since drawn criticism from the CPI(M) and Left-affiliated student and youth organisations, which accused the Congress-led UDF government of allowing what they described as a “Sangh Parivar agenda” to enter the education system.

CPI(M) veteran and former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused the UDF government of “colluding” with the RSS and alleged that efforts were being made to conceal Savarkar’s history and glorify him.Addressing a press conference in Kannur, Vijayan alleged that the Centre and the RSS were attempting to “rewrite history”. He also linked the controversy to the Centre’s efforts to implement its new education policy in Kerala.Former general education minister V Sivankutty also criticised the question, alleging that it was part of an attempt to “saffronise” Kerala’s general education sector and distort the history of India’s freedom struggle.Sivankutty demanded a comprehensive inquiry, strict action against those responsible and the withdrawal of the disputed question and answer. He also sought an apology from the General Education Department.

SFI state secretary P S Sanjeev alleged that the quiz sought to portray Savarkar as a freedom fighter. In a social media post, he criticised the UDF government and alleged that the general education portfolio was being used to create space for the Sangh Parivar.

DYFI state secretary K Sanoj also criticised the government, saying there was no justification for a school quiz to contain a question that allegedly glorified Savarkar.Senior Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader and former minister M K Muneer said portraying Savarkar as a patriot was part of the RSS-BJP agenda.Muneer, however, said that if the question had indeed been included in the quiz, the matter should be seriously examined and those responsible identified, adding that it should not be treated lightly.