Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Kerala suspends teacher over controversial Savarkar quiz question
In the Indian state of Kerala, a school teacher was suspended from his job.
The teacher had helped make questions for a school quiz called the Freedom Quiz.
One question asked which freedom fighter was punished the most by the British.
The answer given was V D Savarkar.
Many people got upset when they saw this answer.
They said it was wrong to praise Savarkar in this way.
Some leaders even said the government was secretly helping a political group.
The Chief Minister of Kerala also complained about the question.
So the education department suspended the teacher and started a deeper inquiry into what happened.
The Kerala General Education Department ordered the suspension of teacher Guru Prasad over a controversial quiz answer on V D Savarkar.
The Social Science Club Freedom Quiz 2026 described Savarkar as the freedom fighter who received the maximum punishment at the hands of the British.
The quiz was conducted on August 6 for Lower Primary, Upper Primary and High School students in schools under Kasaragod's Kumbla and Manjeshwar sub-districts.
The question paper was prepared by a team of teachers led by Guru Prasad, against whom the Deputy Director of Education recommended disciplinary action after an inquiry.
Pinarayi Vijayan and Left organisations accused the Congress-led UDF government of colluding with the RSS and allowing the 'Sangh Parivar agenda' into education.
- Who
- Teacher Guru Prasad of Aided Upper Primary School (AUPS) Pallathadka, suspended by order of Director of General Education Snehil Kumar Singh, and criticised by CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan and Left organisations.
- What
- A teacher was suspended after a Social Science Club Freedom Quiz 2026 question described V D Savarkar as the freedom fighter who received the maximum punishment at the hands of the British.
- When
- The quiz was held on August 6 and the suspension order was issued on Sunday, August 9.
- Where
- Kasaragod district, Kerala, in the Kumbla and Manjeshwar sub-districts; the order was issued from Thiruvananthapuram.
- Why
- The answer triggered controversy and widespread protests, with CPI(M) and Left groups accusing the UDF government of allowing the 'Sangh Parivar agenda' into education and hiding Savarkar's 'real history'.
Left critics (CPI(M) and student/youth organisations)
Question paper authors and education department
Savarkar's place in the freedom struggle
Left critics (CPI(M) and student/youth organisations)
Describing Savarkar as the freedom fighter who received maximum punishment at the hands of the British glorifies him and hides his 'real history'.
Question paper authors and education department
The quiz identified Savarkar as a freedom fighter who endured the maximum punishment from the British, presenting him as a notable figure of the freedom struggle.
Government involvement in the controversy
Left critics (CPI(M) and student/youth organisations)
Pinarayi Vijayan and Left organisations allege the Congress-led UDF government is 'colluding' with the RSS and allowing the 'Sangh Parivar agenda' to enter the education sector.
Question paper authors and education department
The education department responded by holding an inquiry, suspending the teacher and ordering disciplinary proceedings, treating the episode as individual misconduct rather than government policy.
- Suspended teacher
- Guru Prasad
- School
- Aided Upper Primary School (AUPS) Pallathadka, Kumbla, Kasaragod
- Quiz
- Social Science Club Freedom Quiz 2026
- Quiz date
- August 6
- Suspension order date
- August 9
- Order issued by
- Director of General Education Snehil Kumar Singh
- Controversial question
- Who is the freedom fighter who received the maximum punishment at the hands of the British? (Answer: V D Savarkar)
- Disciplinary action
- Departmental proceedings under Kerala Education Rules plus a detailed inquiry with an action-taken report