A controversy has erupted at Vidyasagar University in West Bengal after a history exam paper referred to Indian freedom fighters as "terrorists". The question, part of the sixth-semester History Honours exam, asked students to name three district magistrates of Midnapore who were "killed by terrorists". The implication that Indian revolutionaries, who sacrificed their lives for independence, were terrorists has sparked outrage across the state.
The controversial question appeared in the C14 paper, titled "Modern Nationalism in India". The question specifically asked students to identify three district magistrates of Midnapore who were killed by terrorists. Midnapore, now divided into Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur, was a hotbed of revolutionary activities during the Indian independence movement. Freedom fighters like Khudiram Bose and Matangini Hazra hailed from this region.
The university's Registrar, J.K. Nandi, acknowledged the error, calling it a "typing mistake" and stated that an emergency meeting would be held to investigate the matter. He assured that such mistakes would not be repeated. However, this explanation has done little to quell the widespread condemnation.
The Vice-Chancellor of Vidyasagar University, Prof. Dipak Kumar Kar, issued a public apology, expressing deep regret and shame over the incident. He attributed the error to a mistranslation, explaining that the original English term "militant nationalism" was wrongly translated into Bengali as "Santrasbadi" (terrorist). Kar emphasized the university's commitment to treating the matter with utmost seriousness, considering the subject's connection to Midnapore's revolutionary heritage and the public's emotional attachment to the freedom fighters' sacrifices. The university has reportedly suspended one moderator and a person involved in the paper setting process.
Political parties have also weighed in on the issue. The BJP has strongly criticized the incident, alleging that the Mamata Banerjee government is deliberately rewriting history to vilify Indian nationalism. The party has demanded that the person responsible for setting the paper be identified and penalized, also writing to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Education Minister Bratya Basu. A CPI(M) leader recalled a similar incident years ago when a class 8 history textbook in Bengal labeled freedom fighters Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chandra Chaki as terrorists, further fueling the controversy. Even the local Trinamool Congress unit has acknowledged the seriousness of the matter, calling it an "unpardonable mistake" to equate freedom fighters with terrorists.
The controversy highlights the sensitivity surrounding the portrayal of historical figures and events, especially those related to the Indian independence movement. The incident has sparked a wider debate about the quality of education and the potential for ideological bias in the curriculum in West Bengal.
