Published Aug 08, 2026 | 5:52 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 08, 2026 | 5:52 PM
General Education Minister N Shamsuddin has sought a report from the Director of Public Education.
Synopsis: The question, “Which freedom fighter received the longest punishment from the British,” sparked a controversy with the SFI alleging that the quiz presented Savarkar as a freedom fighter despite his controversial political legacy and his role as one of the accused in the conspiracy case related to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
A controversy has erupted in Kerala over a quiz conducted in some schools in the Kasaragod district, after a question on Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar triggered strong objections from Left student organisations.
The quiz, titled ‘Freedom Quiz’, was held on 6 August in schools under the Kasaragod, Kumbala and Manjeswaram sub-districts as part of Independence Day-related activities.
One of the questions reportedly asked students, “Which freedom fighter received the longest punishment from the British?” and identified Savarkar as the answer.
The question drew criticism from the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the student organisation affiliated with the CPI(M), which accused the Congress-led UDF government and its key ally, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), of creating space for the Sangh Parivar’s version of history in educational activities.
Also Read: Former Union Minister Arun Shourie critiques Savarkar’s legacy
The SFI alleged that the quiz presented Savarkar as a freedom fighter despite his controversial political legacy and his role as one of the accused in the conspiracy case related to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
The controversial question.
The organisation claimed that attempts were being made to portray figures associated with the #Hindutva movement as participants in the country’s freedom struggle.
Amid the controversy, General Education Minister N Shamsuddin sought a report from the Director of Public Education and directed that strict action be taken against those responsible.
According to the minister’s office, the quiz was not part of the official activity calendar of the Social Science Club or the Education Department.
The department and the Social Science Club had not authorised any individual or organisation to conduct such a competition by preparing questions locally, it said.
The minister said the inclusion of historically unsupported questions in an event conducted in schools could not be treated lightly.
He directed the Director of General Education to investigate who organised the quiz, determine how the disputed questions were prepared and take strict action against those found responsible.
The minister’s office said the investigation would also establish whether the organisers had acted without official approval while conducting the quiz in the schools.
