West Bengal Government ousts Two University Professors for inexpiable mistake in question papers.

The Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal Government has immediately, ousted Two University Professors in what is termed as unpardonable mistake, hours after Vidyasagar University examination question paper revealed that Freedom Fighters have been mistakenly termed as ‘Extremists’. Since, Vidyasagar University is in Medinipur, a district which has given birth to scores of revolutionaries such as Khudiram Bose, Matangini Hazra, who sacrificed their lives in their struggle against the colonial British.

The Vidyasagar University history honours (6th semester, paper C14 – Modern Nationalism in India) exam included a shameful question branding legendary Indian revolutionaries as terrorists. “The question asks: “Name three district magistrates of Medinipur whom terrorists killed”. And the so-called “terrorists” listed are none other than our great freedom fighters: Bimal Dasgupta, Jyoti Jiban Ghosh, Pradyot Bhattacharya, Prabanshu Pal. They were symbols of intellectualism and nationalism. But today, the very idea of Indian nationalism was apparently held to have being vilified, and freedom fighters are being equated with criminals, in particular when the CM Mamata Banerjee leaves no stones unturned in adulating these Freedom Fighters.

Immediately, the Opposition Leader of BJP, Mr. Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that, “this is a deliberate rewriting of history to poison young minds“, while posting on the BJP’s social media.

Among the two professors who were ousted, one is the UG board of studies chairman and the other a member of the moderation committee, who also has the signing authority for final approval to questions.

Vidyasagar University vice-chancellor Dipak Kar has apologised for the error. He said he was ashamed and extremely hurt. He said those who were responsible for this typographical and printing mistake were removed from their duties. Head of the history department Prof Nirmal Mahato described the term “militant nationalist” as used in the English question paper. He said there was a mistake in the translation.

Ranjit Dasgupta, the youngest son of revolutionary Bimal Dasgupta, while expressing his anguish said “it was unfortunate that the freedom fighters were now tagged as the terrorists in the modern history of the higher education system in Bengal. Then, in few days’ years from now, martyred Khudiram Bose, Prafulla Chaki and Matangini Hazra would also be called terrorists for our next generation“. He further has lamented the loss of his father during his tender age.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has demanded to know who had set the question papers and sought a clarification from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “The people of West Bengal have every right to know who are behind the setting of history question papers for the university, which was named after reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar”. Adhikari also demanded an unqualified apology from the Chief Minister for tagging the revolutionaries as terrorists.

Team Maverick