A view of the Vidyasagar University. Photo courtesy: vidyasagar.ac.in
A question in the undergraduate examination of State-run Vidyasagar University in West Bengal, where freedom fighters from Paschim Medinipur district have been termed as “shontrashbadi” (terrorists), has sparked outrage in social and political circles prompting the University authorities to apologise.
In the examination that took place on Wednesday (July 9), a question in a sixth semester question paper of B.A. (History) examination 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.
The questions relate to the killing of three District Magistrates Burge (1933), Peddie (1931), and Douglas (1932). Burge was killed by Anathbandhu Panja, Mrigendranath Datta, Ramkrishna Roy, Nirmaljiban Ghosh, Brajakishore Chakraborty, and others. Douglas was assassinated by Prabhanshusekhar Pal, accompanied by Pradyotkumar Bhattacharya. Peddie was killed by Bimal Dasgupta and Jyotijiban Ghosh.
“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 concerns not only the freedom fighters of the district but also hurts 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.
The leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress, including party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, called the development “unfortunate”. A group of lawyers of Midnapore Court has written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanding action against those responsible for the “ conspiracy” to wipe out name of revolutionaries.
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.
Prominent academicians have also raised concerns about branding revolutionaries and terrorists. Former Vice Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University and academician Pabitra Sarkar said that it is unfortunate that such a question is being asked by Vidyasagar University, which is located in Medinipur where so many freedom fighters took birth.
Published – July 11, 2025 11:06 am IST
