Bengal University Sparks Outrage After Exam Paper Labels Freedom Fighters as ‘Terrorists’
Vidyasagar University in West Bengal’s Midnapore has triggered widespread outrage after a history exam paper referred to Indian freedom fighters as “terrorists”, prompting protests, political attacks, and an official apology from the university.
The controversy erupted after a question in the history honours (sixth semester, Paper C14 – Modern Nationalism in India) exam asked students to “name three district magistrates of Midnapore who were killed by terrorists.” The British magistrates referred to were James Peddie, Robert Douglas, and Bernard EJ Burge, while the freedom fighters labelled as “terrorists” included Bimal Dasgupta, Jyoti Jiban Ghosh, Pradyot Bhattacharya, and Prabanshu Pal.
Following the backlash, teachers, students, and locals staged protest rallies in Midnapore, demanding accountability and respect for the revolutionary martyrs who fought against British colonial rule. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lodged a complaint with State Education Minister Bratya Basu, demanding action against those responsible for setting the paper.
Vidyasagar University issued an apology and said it may have been a “typing error.” Registrar JK Nandi confirmed the incident and stated that an emergency meeting has been called to investigate how the question made it to the final paper. “We will ensure such mistakes are not repeated in the future,” Nandi said. The Vice Chancellor has instructed the Controller of Examinations to submit a report by next week.
The BJP slammed the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, calling the incident “shameful” and accusing the state government of “vilifying Indian nationalism.” The Bengal BJP’s official handle posted on X, “Freedom Fighters are now Terrorists in West Bengal!!!” adding that “Bengal was once the cradle of intellectualism and nationalism. But today, under Mamata Banerjee’s government, freedom fighters are being equated with criminals.”
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) alleged that both the BJP and the Trinamool Congress are responsible for the distortion of history in the state, calling the incident part of a larger pattern of historical misrepresentation.
Vidyasagar University, named after the iconic 19th-century reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, is under pressure to address the controversy amid growing public anger and political scrutiny, with many calling for accountability in the handling of academic material that shapes young minds.
