A routine half-yearly examination for fourth-grade students at a government school in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund district erupted into a significant controversy on Wednesday. The uproar was triggered by a seemingly simple multiple-choice question in the English paper that included the name 'Ram' as a potential answer for a dog's name, leading to allegations of religious insensitivity and sparking protests by right-wing organisations.
The Controversial Question and Immediate Backlash
The incident occurred during the half-yearly English exam for the 2025–26 academic session. One of the questions in the paper asked: "What is Mona's dog's name?" Among the four printed choices for the answer was the option 'Ram'. As news of this question spread, it quickly drew fierce criticism from parents and members of right-wing groups.
They alleged that invoking the name of Lord Ram in such a context, specifically for a pet dog, was a deliberate insult to Hindu religious sentiments. The matter escalated rapidly, moving from school corridors to the streets and administrative offices.
Protests and Official Response
Members of the Mahasamund district units of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal staged a protest and submitted a formal memorandum to the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police. In their complaint, they described the incident as "not just negligence but a deliberate attempt to hurt religious faith".
The memorandum emphasised that Lord Ram is a profound symbol of devotion and culture for millions of Hindus, and using the name in this manner was unacceptable. The groups demanded:
- Criminal charges against all officials involved in paper preparation and approval.
- Immediate suspension and dismissal from service for the responsible staff.
- Threatening a district-wide agitation if strict action was not taken within a week.
Protesters also held a rally, marched to the office of the District Education Officer (DEO), and even burned an effigy of the officer on the premises. A local parent, Vijay Mahato, filed a formal police complaint regarding the objectionable question.
Inquiry Ordered and Department's Explanation
Amid the growing backlash, District Education Officer Vijay Lahare announced that an inquiry has been ordered into the incident. He explained to the media that the question paper distributed to students was not the one that had been officially approved by the department.
"We have sought an explanation from the printing vendor. We've asked for the original manuscript to ascertain if the question paper was altered or changed," Lahare stated. He clarified that the controversial option was not part of the questions sent to the printing press, hinting at a possible error or alteration during the printing process.
Lahare assured that there was no intention to hurt any religious sentiments. He added that as soon as the objectionable option came to their notice, it was immediately struck off the answer sheets and replaced with another option. He cited examination confidentiality protocols as the reason the issue was discovered only after the exam began.
The education department is now awaiting the printing vendor's response before deciding on its final course of action, which could include punitive measures depending on the findings of the investigation.
