Row Erupts as University Paper Labels Freedom Fighters ‘Terrorists’

MIDNAPORE:

A storm erupted at Vidyasagar University after a history exam paper wrongly described early 1930s freedom fighters from Midnapore as “terrorists”, triggering outrage among students, academics and political leaders. The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Dipak Kumar Kar, has attributed the incident to a “printing mistake” and promised corrective action.  

The contentious question, posed in Bengali, asked students to “name three district magistrates of Midnapore who were killed by terrorists” prompting immediate backlash once the paper was distributed on 10 July, the sixth semester exam day.  

VC Kar addressed the issue in a statement issued on 11 July, saying, “A printing mistake occurred, it was unintentional and not detected during proofreading.” He confirmed that two professors responsible for question setting and moderation had been relieved of their duties.  

The History Department confirmed the English version had referred to “militant nationalists”, but the Bengali translation omitted quotation marks, changing the context entirely. As Professor Nirmal Mahato, head of the department, explained: “The Bengali translation would have been correct had the term been placed within quotation marks.”  

The mistake has sparked fierce criticism, with the BJP’s West Bengal unit accusing the state administration of rewriting history to “poison young minds”. Their social media post stated:

“Freedom Fighters are now Terrorists in West Bengal!!!”  

The controversy has reignited longstanding debates. Observers note that during the colonial era, the British often labelled armed revolutionaries as terrorists, a contested interpretation today. Renowned historian Pabitra Sarkar has urged the state to revise history textbooks, warning: “It is very wrong to attribute negative things to these people.”  

The university says it has initiated a review of the question setting process to strengthen moderation and translation protocols. VC Kar remarked, “I am sincerely ashamed and extremely hurt, Those responsible for this typographical error and printing mistake were removed from their duties.”  

Political reactions have been swift. BJP state chief Samik Bhattacharya blamed the ruling Trinamool Congress, stating the party “carries the legacy” of Congress era historical misinterpretations. In contrast, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh argued that the error was confined to a few individuals: “Who made the question paper? It is entirely a matter related to a handful of individuals responsible for this.”  

Members of the Congress and CPM have condemned the gaffe as well, though they cautioned against politicising the issue. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury of the Congress remarked on the need to stop “teaching incorrect history” and keep the debate centred on factual accuracy.  

The incident comes mere months before West Bengal’s assembly elections, injecting fresh tension into historical narratives and education policies. The VC assured that corrective measures will be taken before the next semester’s exams: “We apologise for this inadvertent error, it is being investigated.”  

The university administration plans to publish revised question papers and offer re‑examinations if needed. Academics urge that oversight mechanisms be tightened across the curriculum to prevent similar mistakes, stressing the need for vigilance when dealing with sensitive historical terminology.