KASARAGOD, KERALA: A controversy has erupted in Kasaragod district over a question included in a Freedom Quiz for lower primary school students, which described V.D. Savarkar as the freedom fighter who received the “harshest punishment” from the British.
The question was included in a quiz conducted on August 6 and distributed to schools across the Manjeshwaram, Kumbla and Kasaragod educational sub-districts.
The question reportedly asked: “Who was the freedom fighter who received the harshest punishment at the hands of the British?” The answer provided in the quiz was reportedly V.D. Savarkar.
The inclusion of the question has triggered criticism, with opponents questioning both the historical accuracy of the claim and the process through which the quiz material was prepared and circulated.
Education Department Orders Investigation
Following the controversy, the Deputy Director of Education (DDE) has ordered an inquiry into the preparation and content of the questionnaire.
The Assistant Educational Officers (AEOs) of Kasaragod, Kumbla and Manjeshwaram have been asked to submit reports detailing the circumstances under which the quiz was organized and how the questions were prepared and distributed.
General Education Minister N. Samsudeen has also directed the Director General of Education to conduct a detailed investigation and take strict action against those responsible, according to a statement from the minister’s office.
The department said the August 6 Freedom Quiz was not an officially approved program included in the academic calendar of either the General Education Department or the Social Science Club.
Officials further clarified that neither the Education Department nor the Social Science Club had authorized anyone to independently prepare questions at the local level or organize such a competition.
Department Questions Accuracy of Some Content
The Education Department said some of the questions circulating in connection with the quiz were historically inaccurate and factually unfounded.
The investigation is expected to establish who prepared the quiz material, who approved or circulated it, and under what circumstances the competition was conducted.
The department’s clarification has further intensified scrutiny over the use of educational materials in schools, particularly when they deal with India’s freedom struggle and politically sensitive historical figures.
SFI Launches Protest
The controversy has also triggered protests by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI).
The student organization criticized the inclusion of Savarkar in the answer key and accused the UDF government of creating space for what it described as the Sangh Parivar’s narrative of India’s freedom struggle.
SFI state secretary P.S. Sanjeev alleged that portraying Savarkar in the manner suggested by the quiz amounted to presenting a controversial historical figure as a heroic freedom fighter.
Sanjeev also criticized the government’s handling of the issue and questioned the political position of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on the controversy.
Historical Representation at Center of Debate
The dispute has emerged against the backdrop of a broader political debate in Kerala over the portrayal of freedom fighters and interpretations of India’s independence movement.
Savarkar remains a deeply contested figure in Indian political and historical discourse. Supporters regard him as an important figure in the independence movement, while critics have strongly disputed aspects of his political legacy and role in the struggle against British rule.
The controversy surrounding the school quiz has therefore raised questions about historical accuracy, educational responsibility and the political framing of India’s freedom movement.
The Education Department’s investigation is now expected to determine how the controversial question entered the quiz and whether any officials, teachers or organizations were responsible for preparing or distributing the material.
Authorities have indicated that appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.
