T.G. Mohandas arrest: Court pulls up police over procedural lapses

A teacher in Kerala has been suspended after a controversial question in a school quiz linked the name of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue V.D. Savarkar to receiving the "most punishment" from the British during India’s freedom struggle. The incident occurred during a "Freedom Quiz 2026" organized for lower primary students in schools across Kasaragod, Kumbla, and Manjeswaram educational sub-districts on August 6, 2026. Guru Prasad, a teacher at A.U.P.S. Pallathadukka in Kumbla, was suspended pending an inquiry after being identified as the person who prepared the question paper. The General Education Department confirmed the suspension and ordered a detailed investigation into the matter. The quiz, which included 15 questions and five tie-breakers, featured a question asking, “Who is the freedom fighter who received the most punishment from the hands of the British?” The answer provided in the answer key was V.D. Savarkar. This question immediately drew sharp criticism and sparked a political controversy within the state. According to the Director of General Education (DGE), the question was deemed to spread a misleading impression and was considered a very serious breach of academic integrity. The DGE also instructed the Deputy Director of Education in Kasaragod to begin disciplinary proceedings against the teacher and conduct a thorough inquiry into how the question was formulated and approved. The controversy quickly escalated beyond the classroom, drawing attention from political parties and student organizations. The Leader of the Opposition, Pinarayi Vijayan, accused the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government of allowing the RSS to influence young minds through a divisive nationalistic ideology. He claimed the government failed to prevent the inclusion of a politically charged question that allegedly whitewashed Savarkar’s role in the freedom struggle. Vijayan further alleged that the government permitted the Sangh Parivar to rewrite the history of the freedom movement from a Hindu majoritarian perspective. Student organizations such as the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) demanded an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the question’s inclusion in the quiz. They questioned who prepared and approved the question paper, emphasizing the need for transparency in the process. The SFI state secretary, PS Sanjeev, criticized the UDF government, stating that it was attempting to create a role for the Sangh Parivar in the freedom struggle, despite their historical betrayal of the movement. He pointed out that figures like Savarkar had written multiple letters of apology to the British and were not actual participants in the freedom struggle. The General Education Minister, N Samsudheen, responded to the controversy by announcing that the DGE had suspended Guru Prasad pending the outcome of the inquiry. The minister’s office stated that the question was "historically inaccurate" and that neither the Social Science Club nor the General Education Department had authorized the independent preparation of the quiz or its distribution to schools. The statement emphasized that the person responsible for including the question held a prejudiced view and that strict action would be taken against those found accountable. The controversy also saw a response from the BJP, with State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar defending Savarkar as an important figure in India’s independence movement. He warned the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) against interfering in matters related to Savarkar, asserting that the BJP would not remain silent if the education system attempted to alter historical narratives. Chandrasekhar also criticized the Congress for sidelining prominent freedom fighters like Subhas Chandra Bose and Sardar Patel in its portrayal of the freedom struggle. Meanwhile, the CPI(M) and its affiliated organizations continued to accuse the UDF government of colluding with the RSS to promote a distorted version of history among students. Former General Education Minister V Sivankutty alleged that the government was trying to "saffronise" Kerala’s education system and distort the history of India’s freedom struggle. He called for an apology from the education department to the public and students affected by the incident. As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on the findings of the ongoing inquiry. The education ministry has directed the DGE to submit a comprehensive report on the incident, including the roles played by individuals involved in the quiz’s organization. The political tensions surrounding the issue show no signs of abating, with both the Left and Right factions vying for control over the narrative around India’s historical legacy. The outcome of the inquiry will likely shape future discussions on the role of historical accuracy in educational curricula and the influence of ideological agendas in shaping young minds.