The Congress-led government in Kerala is facing severe criticism from the CPI(M) and Left student and youth organisations over a school quiz question that described Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar as the freedom fighter who had received the "most severe punishment from the British".
The controversy has prompted General Education Minister N. Samsudheen to order an inquiry into who prepared and conducted the quiz. Instructions have also been issued to take strict action against those responsible for the question paper.
The ‘Freedom Quiz’ was conducted on August 6 for lower primary students at schools in the Kasaragod, Kumbla and Manjeshwar sub-districts. The question that led to the controversy was: "Who is the freedom fighter that received the most severe punishment from the British?" The answer given was Savarkar.
According to reports, teachers associated with the Social Science Club had prepared the questions. However, the minister's office said the quiz was not part of the activity calendar of either the Social Science Club or the General Education Department.
"The person who included the historically incorrect question holds a prejudiced view," the minister's office said.
Samsudheen has directed the Director of General Education to investigate who was behind the preparation and conduct of the quiz and take strict action against those found responsible.
The issue became political when CPI(M) and Left organisations accused the UDF government of allowing the "Sangh Parivar agenda" to make its way into Kerala's education sector.
Former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused the UDF government of "colluding" with the RSS and alleged that attempts were being made to conceal Savarkar's "real history" and glorify him.
Speaking at a press conference in Kannur, Vijayan alleged that the Centre and the RSS were "attempting to rewrite history". He said the controversy should also be seen in the context of efforts to implement the Centre's new education policy in Kerala.
Former general education minister V Sivankutty also alleged that the question was part of an attempt to "saffronise" Kerala's general education sector and distort the history of the freedom struggle.
Sivankutty objected to describing Savarkar as the freedom fighter who received the most severe punishment from the British, alleging that the question amounted to propagating "false history".
He demanded a comprehensive inquiry and strict action against those responsible, besides the immediate withdrawal of the disputed question and answer.
SFI state secretary P.S. Sanjeev alleged that the quiz attempted to portray Savarkar, whom he described as one of the accused in the conspiracy surrounding Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, as a freedom fighter.
"Under the UDF government in Kerala, with the IUML handling the general education portfolio, an attempt is being made to create a role for the Sangh Parivar, which betrayed the freedom struggle," Sanjeev said in a social media post.
DYFI state secretary K Sanoj also criticised the government, saying there was no justification for including a question in a school quiz that allegedly glorified Savarkar.
