Which Freedom Fighter Received Most Severe Punishment?’ Kerala Orders Probe Into Savarkar Quiz
08 August 2026 | Times of India
NEW DELHI: A political row has erupted in Kerala over a school quiz question that described Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as the freedom fighter who received the "most severe punishment" from the British, prompting general education minister N Samsudheen to order an inquiry.The "Freedom Quiz" was conducted on August 6 for lower primary students in schools in the Kasaragod, Kumbla and Manjeshwar sub-districts, according to news agency.
The disputed question asked: "Who is the freedom fighter that received the most severe punishment from the British?" Savarkar was given as the answer.The minister's office said Samsudheen has directed the director of general education to establish who prepared and conducted the quiz and take stringent action against those responsible.
According to the minister's office, the quiz was not included in the activity calendar of either the Social Science Club or the General Education Department. Neither had authorised anyone to independently prepare the questions or conduct the competition."The person who included the historically incorrect question holds a prejudiced view," the minister's office said, adding that the Education Director had been instructed to identify those responsible and take strict action.