The Kerala government has suspended a school teacher over a controversial quiz question that described Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as the freedom fighter who “received the maximum punishment at the hands of the British,” officials said.
The Director of General Education issued an order for the immediate suspension of Guru Prasad, a teacher at Aided Upper Primary School (AUPS) Pallathadkaa in Kasaragod. The action followed a report submitted by the Deputy Director of Education after an inquiry into the matter.
According to officials, the Social Science Club Freedom Quiz 2026 was organised on August 6 for students from Lower Primary, Upper Primary and High School sections in schools across the Kumbla and Manjeshwar sub-districts.
The questionnaire for the Lower Primary section contained 15 questions along with five tie-breaker questions.
The fifth question asked, “Who is the freedom fighter who received the maximum punishment at the hands of the British?” and listed Savarkar as the answer, officials said.
The question and its answer triggered a major controversy and widespread protests, following which education authorities ordered an inquiry. The issue was criticised by the CPI(M) and Left-aligned student and youth organisations, which accused the Congress-led UDF government of allowing the “Sangh Parivar agenda” to enter the education system.
The BJP, meanwhile, strongly opposed Guru Prasad’s suspension. BJP leader K Surendran said, “It is a historical fact that VD Savarkar spent the longest period in prison in connection with the freedom struggle.”
“This government cannot do a thing to Master Guru Prasad. He will be able to prove his innocence in any court. He will receive his salary and other benefits, along with interest,” he said.
The BJP also pledged full support to the teacher and said that “vote-bank politicians will be defeated.”
According to the Director of General Education’s order, Guru Prasad headed the team of teachers responsible for preparing the question paper.
Following the inquiry, the Deputy Director of Education recommended disciplinary action against the teachers involved. The General Education Department has also instructed the school management to initiate departmental disciplinary proceedings against Guru Prasad under the Kerala Education Rules.
The department has ordered a detailed investigation into the matter and directed the Deputy Director of Education to submit an action-taken report after completing the required procedures.
