Now Reading: Kerala Suspends Teacher Over Savarkar Quiz Row
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Kerala Suspends Teacher Over Savarkar Quiz Row
A Kerala teacher has been suspended for a quiz question that praised Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar as the freedom fighter who got the maximum punishment from the British during an Independence…
The Story in Brief
A Kerala teacher has been suspended for a quiz question that praised Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar as the freedom fighter who got the maximum punishment from the British during an Independence Day contest. Guru Prasad of AUPS Pallathadka in Kasaragod was suspended on Sunday by Director General of General Education Snehil Kumar Singh, following orders from Education Minister A N Samsudheen, pending an inquiry.
The 'Freedom Quiz' was held on August 6 for students in the Kumbla and Manjeshwar sub-districts. The fifth question in the Lower Primary paper asked who received the maximum punishment from the British, with Savarkar listed as the answer. Protesters from student organisations and BJP activists clashed over the suspension. The minister said disciplinary action will follow if others are found involved, noting the quiz was not an approved departmental activity.
The Indian Opinion
The suspension of a teacher over a quiz question is both swift and heavy-handed, yet the minister's own words betray a deeper problem. He says the quiz was a local, unofficial activity, which means oversight failed long before the question was set. The BJP's protest against the suspension is predictable theatre, but the education department cannot let personal ideology hijack school platforms. The real test is whether the investigation names higher officials who cleared such quizzes in previous years, not just the teacher who framed the question.
Sources (2): english.mathrubhumi.com, newindianexpress.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
