Dipa’s felicitation event finds place in exam
History rewritten. The Left Front government in Tripura has now taken a new route to publicity – the Class 12 board examination.
The students sitting the English exam on March 2 were given a comprehension exercise that required them to read a passage which talked at length about the celebrations organised by the Manik Sarkar government to honour gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who hails from Tripura. Sample a few questions: How long did it take for Dipa to climb up the dias?
Which ministers were present in the stadium?
In honour of Dipa a holiday was declared on August 23 at all educational institutions by: The chief minister The education minister The director of education The secretary of education There were many such questions that listed what the government did to honour the athlete, the first Indian woman gymnast to compete in Olympics.
The National Students Union of India (NSUI) asked the Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE), which conducts the exam, to step in.
“The passage or comprehension that came in higher secondary board question paper only highlighted Left Front’s praise and what the government has given to Dipa Karmakar,” NSUI general secretary Rakesh Das said. The passage began with atmosphere in the stadium where a huge crowd waited to greet Karmakar and her coach. It lists in detail the ceremony – presenting of bouquets in the presence of chief minister, education minister and sports minister. It talks about Karmakar expressing gratitude to her coaches and the CM announcing promotions for her and her coach. There was also a mention of the education minister declaring August 23 a public holiday. The saving grace – the passage omitted the names of the ministers.
“We have already given memorandum to TBSE president, demanding a reply for the reasons for choosing this Left-biased comprehension for the higher secondary exam paper,” said Das.
The board had nothing to do with the paper, Deb said. The paper-setter hands over the paper to the moderator who passes it on the TBSE in a sealed cover. The board sends it to printers without opening the envelope.
“Actually, there is no scope of eyeing the question paper before it is served to the candidates on exam dates,” Deb said, adding, “The comprehension was taken from a report in some newspaper.”
Last year, the government had come under fire for doing away with Indian history for Class 9.