A view of the Vidyasagar University. Photo courtesy: vidyasagar.ac.in
Vidyasagar University, a public university located in West Bengal’s Paschim Midnapore district, stirred up controversy on Thursday (July 10, 2025) when, in a sixth semester question paper of B.A. (History), freedom fighters were found to have been termed as “shontrashbadi” (terrorists).
In the examination that took place on Wednesday (July 9), the question paper on Modern Nationalism of India carried a question that asked, “Name three district magistrates of Midnapore who were killed by terrorists.” This sparked outrage among the public, including renowned Bengali academicians and descendants of freedom fighters.
“This is shameful. This means every freedom fighter is being called a terrorist now. We must not forget how India got independent,” Ronojit Dasgupta, son of freedom fighter Bimal Dasgupta, said.
Addressing the outrage, Vice-Chancellor of Vidyasagar University, Professor Dipak Kumar Kar, said that the university administration is not taking the matter lightly as the issue concerned not only about the freedom fighters of the district but had also hurt the sentiments of the people of West Bengal.
“This was an accidental, typographical printing error that we should have detected while proofreading the question paper. It was unintentional and caused by oversight. Every staff member responsible for this is being relieved from their posts including the person whose signature was on its approval. Vidyasagar University is saddened and apologetic about this,” Professor Kar said on Thursday.
BJP’s Suvenda blames Mamata govt.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition of West Bengal Assembly and Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Suvendu Adhikari blamed the Trinamool government for the mislabelling of West Bengal’s freedom fighters.
“The question paper setter must be suspended immediately. The vice-chancellor of Vidyasagar University must be sent a show cause notice. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee must take accountability and unconditionally apologise for this,” Mr .Adhikari said.
Notably, a month ago, a First Information Report was registered in West Bengal’s Bidhannagar South Police Station under sections 352, 353(1)(c), and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in connection with allegations of historical misrepresentation of Bengali freedom fighters in the film Kesari Chapter 2.
Published – July 11, 2025 11:06 am IST
