Kerala General Education Minister N. Shamsudheen has directed the Director of General Education to launch a formal inquiry and initiate strict action into a school-level quiz question that described V.D. Savarkar as a freedom fighter, officials said on Saturday.
Minister orders inquiry, officials to identify those responsible
The Minister instructed the Director to identify the persons responsible for including the controversial question and to take appropriate disciplinary measures, after complaints were lodged over the item that appeared in the tie-breaker section of the quiz paper used in parts of Kasaragod district.
Officials clarified that the quiz was organised at school level and was not part of the official activity calendar of either the Social Science Club or the Education Department. The contested item appeared in a tie-breaker section that was required only in Kumbla and Manjeshwar; schools under the wider Kasaragod education district reportedly did not use that section.
Question wording and probe into preparation methods
The tie-breaker question asked students to identify the freedom fighter who had received the longest punishment from the British; the answer provided in the paper was Savarkar. The questions were not multiple-choice and required written answers.
The Education Department said it will also investigate whether artificial intelligence (AI) tools were used in preparing the question paper, as part of the review into how the item came to be included.
Political and student organisation reactions
The incident has provoked political clashes and protests. Left student bodies accused the state government of aligning with a Sangh Parivar narrative by presenting Savarkar — a controversial historical figure accused in the Mahatma Gandhi assassination conspiracy — as a freedom fighter.
- The Students' Federation of India (SFI) alleged the question sought to project Savarkar as a freedom fighter and criticised associated political alignments.
- The Muslim Students' Federation (MSF) lodged a formal complaint about the quiz question.
- The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) staged a march to the District Education Office demanding action.
SFI leaders also criticised the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a partner in the UDF coalition, alleging double standards. The Minister's order for a probe shifts attention to departmental findings and any subsequent disciplinary steps.
Administrative details and next steps
A senior department official said the quiz was organised at the individual school level and not by the Education Department. The inquiry directed by the Minister will be expected to determine:
- who drafted the question paper;
- whether the paper was vetted by school authorities before use;
- if AI or external sources contributed to the paper's content; and
- appropriate administrative action based on the findings.
The Education Department has not disclosed a timeline for completion of the inquiry. Officials will likely follow standard departmental procedures to ascertain responsibility and take action if misconduct or breach of guidelines is found.
| Area | Tie-breaker section used |
|---|---|
| Kumbla | Yes |
| Manjeshwar | Yes |
| Other schools in Kasaragod district | No |
The controversy highlights ongoing sensitivities around history teaching in schools and the governance of extracurricular academic activities. The outcome of the inquiry will be watched by political groups, student organisations and education administrators alike as it may inform future guidelines on school competitions and question-paper preparation.
Parents and students in the affected schools have expressed concern and are awaiting the department's response and any corrective measures that follow.
