A question in West Bengal’s Vidyasagar University history examination that described freedom fighters as ‘terrorists’ has sparked widespread outrage, with political parties and citizens questioning how such an error could pass through the university’s systems. The controversy, which quickly gained traction on social media, prompted the university’s vice chancellor to clarify that the reference was a “printing mistake” and that immediate steps were being taken to address the lapse.
The issue surfaced after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s West Bengal unit shared an image of the semester six History Honours question paper, alleging it labelled prominent freedom fighters from Bengal as “terrorists.” The question, part of the paper titled “Modern Nationalism in India,” asked students to “Name three District Magistrates of Medinipur, who terrorists killed,” while listing legendary revolutionaries like Bimal Dasgupta, Jyoti Jiban Ghosh, Pradyot Bhattacharya, and Prabanshu Pal.
Political Outcry and Accusations
The BJP criticised the West Bengal government, accusing it of vilifying freedom fighters and distorting the spirit of Indian nationalism. “Bengal was once the cradle of intellectualism and nationalism. But today, under Mamata Banerjee’s government, freedom fighters are being equated with criminals. This is a deliberate rewriting of history to poison young minds,” the party stated, adding that such misrepresentations undermine the sacrifices made by the revolutionaries who fought for India’s independence.
The controversy gained momentum online, with many expressing shock over the insensitivity and negligence reflected in the question paper. The incident has raised concerns about the diligence and responsibility of educational institutions while handling subjects as sensitive as India’s freedom struggle.
University’s Clarification and Action
Amid growing criticism, Vidyasagar University vice chancellor Dipak Kumar Kar issued a statement acknowledging the mistake. He described the error as unintentional, clarifying that it occurred during the moderation of the paper and was not caught during proofreading. “A printing mistake occurred in the question paper of the undergraduate history examination. After inquiring with the Controller of Examinations and the Chairperson of the Undergraduate Board of Studies of History, we discovered that the error happened during moderation, and it was not intentional,” Kar stated.
The university has initiated corrective action, removing the concerned teacher involved in the moderation of the paper and exempting the Board of Studies chairman from his post. Kar added that the administration is committed to preventing such mistakes in the future and will strengthen its proofreading and moderation processes to ensure that sensitive historical references are handled with accuracy and respect.
This incident at Vidyasagar University has highlighted the need for academic institutions to exercise caution and responsibility while framing questions that deal with the country’s history and the sacrifices of freedom fighters. As educational spaces play a pivotal role in shaping young minds, ensuring historical accuracy and sensitivity in academic content remains critical in preserving the values and respect owed to India’s freedom movement.
