Kochi: A school teacher had to pay a heavy price following a controversy over a ‘Freedom Quiz’ conducted ahead of Independence Day.
Guru Prasad, a teacher at AUPS Pallathadka in Kumbla sub-district, had prepared the questions for the quiz which was conducted by the Social Science Club on August 6.
He was shocked to be served a suspension letter, pending inquiry, after a controversy erupted vis-à-vis the ‘Freedom Quiz’ held at schools in Kasaragod, Kumbla and Manjeshwaram sub-districts.
According to Kerala General Education minister N. Samsudheen’s office, one of the questions in the quiz was allegedly framed in a manner that could spread misleading and historically unsupported information.
Following the directions of the Education minister, Director of General Education suspended Guru Prasad, pending an inquiry.
The disputed question was – ‘Who is the freedom fighter who received the most severe punishment from the British?’
The answer — Veer Savarkar.
The question on Hindutva ideologue Savarkar triggered protests in the southern state.
The DYFI, youth wing of the CPI(M), held a protest march against the inclusion of the question.
SFI state secretary Sanjeev also criticised the government over the issue. “In Kerala, where the UDF is in power and the Indian Union Muslim League is handling the General Education portfolio, this government is now creating a role in the freedom struggle for the Sangh Parivar, which had no such role and had betrayed the freedom movement,” the statement said.
The Keralam Education ministry then directed the Director of General Education to find out who set the paper and conducted the quiz. Once the paper-setter was identified, stringent action was taken against him.
The quiz was not part of the activity calendar of Social Science Club or the General Education Department, and neither had authorised anyone to prepare the questions or conduct the competition independently, PTI reported.
