Kerala education authorities have suspended teacher Guru Prasad following controversy over a school quiz question describing V.D. Savarkar as the freedom fighter who received the “maximum punishment” from the British. The question appeared in the Social Science Club Freedom Quiz 2026 in Kasaragod. An inquiry preceded the suspension, while Left organisations criticised the wording. BJP leader K Surendran defended the teacher, arguing that Savarkar’s imprisonment was a historical fact and calling the action unjustified. The dispute has renewed debate over political influence and historical framing in education.
Kerala Government Suspends Teacher Over Savarkar Quiz Question; BJP Challenges Move
Kerala government suspended teacher Guru Prasad after a school quiz referred to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as the freedom fighter who got the maximum punishment from the British authorities.
The Kerala government has suspended school teacher Guru Prasad following a controversy over a quiz question which described Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as the freedom fighter who got the “maximum punishment” from the British.
Officials said the order for suspension was issued by the Director of General Education based on an inquiry report submitted by the Deputy Director of Education, Kasaragod.
Guru Prasad is a teacher at the AUPS Pallathadkaa in Kasaragod. He led the team of teachers who prepared the controversial questionnaire as per the order of the department.
Savarkar question triggers Kerala education controversy
The questionnaire was prepared for the Social Science Club Freedom Quiz 2026, a school-level quiz competition for the students of Lower Primary, Upper Primary and High School sections to be held on 6th August.
The competition was held in schools in the Kumbla and Manjeshwar sub-districts, officials privy to the proceedings of the education department said.
The questionnaire for the Lower Primary section had 15 questions and five tie-breaker questions. The controversial Savarkar question was at the fifth place.
The question asked students to identify the freedom fighter who had received the “maximum punishment at the hands of the British”. The answer was given as Savarkar, officials said.
The wording triggered protests and political criticism, following which education authorities ordered an inquiry into how the question was prepared and approved.
The controversy also drew criticism from the CPI(M) and Left student and youth organisations, which alleged that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government was permitting what they described as a “Sangh Parivar agenda” to enter Kerala’s education sector.
BJP leader K Surendran backs suspended teacher
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly objected to the suspension, with party leader K Surendran defending Guru Prasad and challenging the government’s decision.
Surendran said it was a historical fact that V.D. Savarkar had spent the longest period in prison in connection with India’s freedom struggle.
Surendran said the government would not be able to take effective steps against Guru Prasad,, who would have a chance to prove his innocence in court.
Surendran also said that the suspended teacher Guru Prasad would be given salary and other benefits, including interest. He said the BJP would support the suspended teacher.
The BJP also said “vote-bank politicians” would “ultimately be defeated”, presenting the suspension as a politically motivated action against the teacher.
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Kerala Education Department orders disciplinary proceedings
The team of teachers that prepared the question paper used for the school-level competition was headed by Guru Prasad, the order of the Director of General Education said.
At the conclusion of its inquiry, the Deputy Director of Education recommended disciplinary action against teachers found responsible for preparing the disputed material.
Later, the General Education Department directed the school management to initiate departmental disciplinary proceedings against Guru Prasad as per the Education rules of Kerala.
The department has also ordered a detailed probe into the circumstances leading to the preparation of the questionnaire and inclusion of the disputed answer.
The Deputy Director of Education has been instructed to complete the prescribed procedures and submit an action-taken report thereafter; further administrative action could follow,” he said.
Dispute highlights sensitivity around historical narratives
The controversy throws into sharp relief once again how politically and historically contested figures are represented in educational materials, particularly when questions frame disputed interpretations as settled answers.
Savarkar remains a prominent and contested figure in Indian history, with differing political and historical assessments of his role in the freedom movement and his relationship with British authorities.
The immediate question before the education authorities in Kerala, therefore, is both administrative and educational. Who is to be held responsible for the question, and did the material involved meet the applicable academic standards?
The next phase of the row could be decided by the government’s disciplinary process and BJP’s stated intention to back Guru Prasad. There could be further findings once the department completes its inquiry.
The suspension, at present, is an administrative step following an inquiry, while the political claims surrounding the question are being contested by the contending parties.
Sprouts News understands that the dispute has consequently moved beyond the quiz itself, becoming part of a wider political argument over historical narratives and their presentation within schools.
