A controversy has erupted in West Bengal after a question in Vidyasagar University’s sixth-semester history exam on Thursday described freedom fighters from the 1930s as “terrorists,” that has drawn sharp criticism from academics, politicians and civil society.
The question, written in Bengali, read: “Name three district magistrates of Midnapore who were killed by terrorists?” It referred to the British-era assassinations of district officials by armed revolutionaries associated with the Bengal Volunteers — a nationalist group that believed in armed resistance against colonial rule.
The use of the word "terrorists" triggered immediate backlash, with criticism pouring in from across the political spectrum. The BJP filed a formal complaint via email to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Education Minister Bratya Basu, while also attacking the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The Congress and CPI(M) condemned the mistake as well, but also accused the BJP of exploiting the issue for political mileage.
Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said, “This is not surprising from a party born from the Congress. The Congress misled generations with distorted history to please colonial masters, even calling revolutionaries ‘misguided patriots.’ The Trinamool inherits that legacy.”
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Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury called for an end to what he termed the “alarming effort” to misrepresent India’s freedom struggle. “The Congress led the freedom movement. The BJP’s ideological ancestors were nowhere to be seen. They should refrain from lecturing others on patriotism,” he said.
CPM’s Sujan Chakraborty echoed similar sentiments, slamming both the question and the BJP's response.
Renowned academic Pabitra Sarkar called the incident “most unfortunate and astonishing.” Historian Kanad Sinha clarified that while the British used the term “terrorist” for revolutionaries, modern academic discourse prefers terms like “revolutionary terrorism” to distinguish their political motives from today’s religious or communal terrorism.
“Revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh used the term strategically,” Sinha explained, adding, “But using ‘terrorist’ today without context can lead to misunderstanding. It shouldn’t be equated with modern-day terrorism.”
Political scientist Subhamoy Maitra added, “After 78 years of Independence, calling freedom fighters terrorists, even unintentionally, is inappropriate. But the reaction is disproportionate. This should’ve been handled with an apology.”
The assassinations referenced in the exam—of district magistrates James Peddie, Robert Douglas and Bernard Berge—occurred between 1931 and 1933 in Midnapore, and were carried out by young revolutionaries aged 17 to 22, all associated with the Bengal Volunteers. These acts were in retaliation for the death of iconic revolutionaries Benoy, Badal and Dinesh, who had shot British IG of Prisons NS Simpson in 1930.
Many of the revolutionaries were executed, jailed, or died in action. Their stories remain a proud part of Bengal’s armed resistance to colonial rule.
Vidyasagar University Vice-Chancellor Dipak Kar addressed the controversy, calling the mistake “unintentional.” He confirmed that the two faculty members responsible for setting the question paper have been removed and an internal inquiry is underway.
“We apologise sincerely. By the time the mistake was noticed, the question paper had already been distributed,” he said.
The TMC, while distancing itself from the error, admitted it was “unwarranted” and “regrettable.” TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh stressed that the issue lies solely with those responsible for preparing the paper, not the education department or state leadership.
Sources close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was “most displeased” and has asked Education Minister Bratya Basu to take appropriate action.
Political analysts believe the issue — though likely a case of editorial oversight — has taken on a life of its own amid Bengal’s charged political climate, especially with state elections approaching.
“The slogan ‘one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter’ is often cited,” said Maitra, adding, “But in this case, history should have been handled with far more care. That said, politicising an obvious mistake is also unnecessary.”
As academic standards come under renewed scrutiny, the controversy highlights the ongoing tension between historical interpretation, political narratives, and educational responsibility in Bengal.
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