A political controversy has emerged in Kerala following a school quiz that described Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar as a freedom fighter who received the most severe punishment from the British. The question, posed during a school competition, prompted an immediate backlash and led to Kerala's General Education Minister, N. Samsudheen, ordering an official inquiry into the matter.

The inclusion of the question has ignited a broader debate between various political factions, including the Left and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), concerning the accurate historical narrative surrounding Savarkar's role in India's independence movement. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a prominent figure within the BJP, stated that the party "will not remain silent" on the issue, underscoring the deep ideological divisions that the quiz question has exposed within the state's political landscape.

Separately, in West Bengal, a 'yagna' (a Hindu ritual involving fire offerings) performed at Jadavpur University in Kolkata has also sparked a political row. The ritual, which was reportedly conducted by the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), took place in the afternoon in front of the university's administrative Aurobindo Building. This occurred while regular classes were in session, leading to criticism and political contention over the nature and appropriateness of such an event on a secular university campus.

Both incidents highlight ongoing ideological tensions and the contentious nature of historical interpretation and religious expression within public and educational institutions across India. The events underscore the sensitivity surrounding figures like Savarkar, who remains a divisive personality in Indian history, and the presence of politically aligned organisations on university grounds, often leading to clashes over institutional ethos and academic environment.