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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Row over ‘terrorist' reference to freedom fighters in exam paper; varsity V-C issues apology for grave mistake
A CONTROVERSY erupted after a history question paper at the state-run Vidyasagar University in Paschim Medinipur referred to freedom fighters as 'terrorists,' triggering strong political reactions and prompting the institute to issue a public apology, calling it a 'printing mistake.' Following protests by students, the university's Vice-Chancellor Dilipkumar Kar issued an apology on Thursday, terming the incident a 'grave mistake'. The contentious question, printed in Bengali, read: 'Who were the three District Magistrates killed by the terrorists of Midnapore?' It appeared in a history question paper distributed to fourth-semester students on Wednesday. As the question circulated among students, dozens gathered in front of V-C Kar's office, raising slogans: 'We demand an answer — why were brave freedom fighters insulted?' and 'You must apologise!' Vice-Chancellor Kar said, 'We are deeply saddened. This is not a routine error. It is unacceptable and we seek forgiveness.' He said a probe committee was constituted within 24 hours of the incident. 'It was a printing mistake that went unnoticed during proofreading. Once the paper was circulated, there was no time to make corrections. I have asked the controller of examinations to submit a detailed report,' said Kar. The three 'slain district magistrates' referred to in the question were James Peddie, Robert Douglas and Bernard Berge, who were gunned down in a span of three years for their tyranny in Midnapore (Medinipur). Academic Pabitra Sarkar condemned the error, saying, 'It is unthinkable in Independent India to refer to youths who fought British oppression as 'terrorists '— a term used by the colonial rulers.' Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari in a post on X described the terrorist reference as 'absolutely outrageous.' 'The administrative authorities of Vidyasagar University have once again insulted our revered freedom fighters by labeling the brave revolutionaries of Medinipur as 'militants' and 'terrorists' in the 2025 History Honours sixth semester question paper,' he said. 'This is not an isolated mistake but a deliberate distortion of our history, repeating the same disgraceful error from 2023 under the watch of Dr Nirmal Kumar Mahato, Head of the History Department and a known TMC affiliate in WBCUPA (West Bengal College and University Professors Association); TMC's political organisation comprising professors,' Adhikari added. 'Shockingly, no action has been taken against Dr Mahato despite his repeated oversight failures. Worse still, his stature has risen, he was promoted to Joint Secretary of WBCUPA after the 2023 blunder. For the unversed; the tyrannical British District Magistrates; Burge (1933), Peddie (1931), and Douglas (1932) were targeted by Indian freedom fighters. Peddie was killed by Bimal Dasgupta and Jyotijiban Ghosh,' the BJP leader posted online. The BJP leader questioned whether the elevation of Mahato an endorsement of Trinamool Congress's belief that 'our freedom fighters were militants and terrorists.' 'Is this political elevation of Dr. Nirmal Kumar Mahato, an endorsement of TMC's belief that our freedom fighters were militants and terrorists? The Vice Chancellor's refusal to act only deepens the suspicion of political protectionism. This is a blow to every Indian who honours our independence struggle. I demand immediate accountability, the removal of Dr Mahato, and a thorough investigation into this institutional failure. Will TMC clarify if they stand by this shameful narrative?,' he said. Mahato could not be contacted for comment, while university sources described Adhikari's remarks as 'unfortunate.' Trinamool Congress (TMC) state general secretary Kunal Ghosh distanced the party from the controversy, saying, 'The questions were set by a few persons, not the education department. It needs to be investigated who approved the question paper.' CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also condemned the terminology, calling it 'unthinkable and unimaginable in independent India' and held the TMC government accountable for allowing such a lapse under its watch. Causing further embarrassment to the varsity, the BA Honours Political Science exam was cancelled on Friday after it was discovered that the question paper was 'out of syllabus.' University authorities said fresh tests would be conducted next week. Educationist Chinmat Guha said, 'This is not an individual error. Preparing a question paper is a collective process. This is a serious lapse at multiple levels.' In 2019, freedom fighters Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki were described as terrorists in Class 8 state textbooks, leading to public outcry. The then Education Minister Partha Chatterjee had promised in the Assembly that the error would be corrected and apologised on behalf of the department. — WITH PTI INPUTS (Anisha Ghosh is an intern at the Kolkata office of The Indian Express)
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Bengal Question Paper Calls Revolutionaries "Militants", BJP Slams Trinamool
Kolkata: Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has slammed the Trinamool Congress over the misrepresentation of freedom fighters as "militants" in a government university's question paper in Paschim Medinipur district. Taking to social media, Mr Adhikari wrote, "The Administrative Authorities of Vidyasagar University have once again insulted our revered freedom fighters by labeling the brave revolutionaries of Medinipur "militants" and "terrorists" in the 2025 History Honours Sixth Semester question paper." Absolutely Outrageous The Administrative Authorities of Vidyasagar University have once again insulted our revered freedom fighters by labeling the brave revolutionaries of Medinipur as "militants" and "terrorists" in the 2025 History Honours Sixth Semester question paper. This… — Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) July 11, 2025 Images of the question paper shared by the BJP MLA showed a question in Bengali, asking students to name three district magistrates of Medinipore who were killed by "militants". "Burge (1933), Peddie (1931), and Douglas (1932) were targeted by Indian Freedom Fighters. Peddie was killed by Bimal Dasgupta and Jyotijiban Ghosh. Douglas was assassinated by Prabhanshusekhar Pal, accompanied by Pradyotkumar Bhattacharya. Burge was killed by Anathbandhu Panja, Mrigendranath Datta, Ramkrishna Roy, Nirmaljiban Ghosh, Brajakishore Chakraborty, and others," explained Mr Adhikari. This isn't the first time this controversial question has been asked in examinations, alleged Mr Adhikari, claiming that a similar question was asked in 2023. Professor Dipak Kumar Kaur, Vice Chancellor of the university, called it a typographical error and said the matter wasn't being taken lightly, as it is about freedom fighters who hailed from the same district. The exam for the 'Modern nationalism and India' paper was held at the university on July 9. The Vice Chancellor has sought a report from the Controller of Examinations and the Chairperson of the undergraduate Board of Studies of History.
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Printing mistake": Vidyasagar University VC after its exam paper calling freedom fighters 'terrorists'
Paschim Medinipur (West Bengal) [India], July 11 (ANI): After a controversy erupted in West Bengal after a question in an undergraduate history examination paper set by Vidyasagar University referred to Indian freedom fighters as 'terrorists', Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dipak Kumar Kar, referred to it as 'a printing mistake'. Kar asserted that the report from the Controller of Examinations and Chairperson of the Undergraduate Board of Studies of History suggested that the error occurred during moderation, which was unintentional and not detected during proofreading. 'A printing mistake occurred in the question paper of the undergraduate history examination yesterday... I enquired about the matter with the Controller of Examinations and asked for a report from the Controller of the Examination as well as from the Chairperson of the Undergraduate Board of Studies of History. After getting the report, we came to know that the error occurred during moderation, which was unintentional and not detected during proofreading, also,' Kar said. 'We have decided that the concerned teacher who was involved in the moderation will be replaced by a new member, and the Chairman of the Board of Studies will also be exempted from his chairmanship,' he added. The question has sparked outrage for describing Indian revolutionaries -- who resisted British colonial rule -- as 'terrorists'. The phrasing has drawn sharp criticism from academics, civil society groups, and the state's opposition parties, who have demanded action against university authorities. Meanwhile, a Trinamool Congress (TMC ) leader was shot dead by unidentified people in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. The deceased was identified as Rajjak Khan, a resident of Chak Maricha village of Chaltaberia Gram Panchayat in South 24 Parganas district. 'Around 9.45 pm yesterday, one Rajjak Khan of Chak Maricha village, Chaltaberia Gram Panchayat, was attacked by a few persons near Siristala under Uttar Kashipore PS while returning home. He was shifted to a hospital and was declared dead there. Investigation has been initiated,' the Kolkata police said. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Row over freedom fighters called ‘terrorists' in Bengal university paper; VC blames ‘printing mistake'
A question in the history exam paper at West Bengal's Vidyasagar University termed freedom fighters as 'terrorists', sparking a huge controversy. The Vice Chancellor has now clarified that reference was a printing mistake. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is under fire due to a gaffe by Vidyasagar University.(PTI) The row erupted after the Bharatiya Janata Party's West Bengal unit shared a picture of the question paper from semester 6 of the History Honours course, alleging it termed prominent freedom fighters from the state 'terrorists'. 'Freedom Fighters are now Terrorists in West Bengal!!! In Vidyasagar University History Honours (6th semester, Paper C14 - Modern Nationalism in India) exam included a shameful question branding legendary Indian revolutionaries as 'terrorists.' The question asks: 'Name three District Magistrates of Medinipur, who terrorists killed.' And the so-called 'terrorists' listed are none other than our great freedom fighters,' the post on social media platform X said. The BJP listed the freedom fighters mentioned in the question, namely Bimal Dasgupta, Jyoti Jiban Ghosh, Pradyot Bhattacharya, and Prabanshu Pal. The opposition party in the state attacked chief minister Mamata Banerjee, saying the very idea of Indian nationalism is being vilified by her government. 'Bengal was once the cradle of intellectualism and nationalism. But today, under Mamata Banerjee's government, the very idea of Indian nationalism is being vilified, and freedom fighters are being equated with criminals. This is a deliberate rewriting of history to poison young minds,' the BJP said. Vidyasagar University clarifies Vidyasagar University vice chancellor Dipak Kumar Kar responded to the row over freedom fighters being termed as 'terrorists', calling it a 'printing mistake'. "A printing mistake occurred in the question paper of undergraduate history examination yesterday...I inquired about the matter with the Controller of Examinations and asked for a report from the Controller of the Examination as well as from the Chairperson of the Undergraduate Board of Studies of History. After getting the report, we came to know that the error occurred during moderation, which was unintentional and not detected during proofreading,' he told news agency ANI. Kar also announced action against those involved in the paper's moderation. The university replaced the concerned teacher who was involved in the moderation. The Board of Studies chairman will also be exempted from the post.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Controversial question in B.A. History exam in West Bengal's Vidyasagar University sparks outrage
Vidyasagar University, a public university located in West Bengal's Paschim Midnapore district, stirred up controversy on Thursday (July 10, 2025) when, in a sixth semester question paper of B.A. (History), freedom fighters were found to have been termed as 'shontrashbadi' (terrorists). In the examination that took place on Wednesday (July 9), the question paper on Modern Nationalism of India carried a question that asked, 'Name three district magistrates of Midnapore who were killed by terrorists.' This sparked outrage among the public, including renowned Bengali academicians and descendants of freedom fighters. 'This is shameful. This means every freedom fighter is being called a terrorist now. We must not forget how India got independent,' Ronojit Dasgupta, son of freedom fighter Bimal Dasgupta, said. Addressing the outrage, Vice-Chancellor of Vidyasagar University, Professor Dipak Kumar Kar, said that the university administration is not taking the matter lightly as the issue concerned not only about the freedom fighters of the district but had also hurt the sentiments of the people of West Bengal. 'This was an accidental, typographical printing error that we should have detected while proofreading the question paper. It was unintentional and caused by oversight. Every staff member responsible for this is being relieved from their posts including the person whose signature was on its approval. Vidyasagar University is saddened and apologetic about this,' Professor Kar said on Thursday. BJP's Suvenda blames Mamata govt. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition of West Bengal Assembly and Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Suvendu Adhikari blamed the Trinamool government for the mislabelling of West Bengal's freedom fighters. 'The question paper setter must be suspended immediately. The vice-chancellor of Vidyasagar University must be sent a show cause notice. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee must take accountability and unconditionally apologise for this,' Mr .Adhikari said. Notably, a month ago, a First Information Report was registered in West Bengal's Bidhannagar South Police Station under sections 352, 353(1)(c), and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in connection with allegations of historical misrepresentation of Bengali freedom fighters in the film Kesari Chapter 2.
