In Gujarat school shocker, students asked how Gandhi committed suicide

In a shocking incident, the Class 9 students of a Gujarat school were asked how Mahatma Gandhi committed suicide, prompting the state education authorities to initiate an inquiry into the incident.

Besides, news agency PTI reported, another question that irked the education officials was about boot-legging in dry Gujarat.

“Gandhijiye aapghaat karwa maate shu karyu (How did Gandhiji commit suicide)?” was the question asked in Gujarati to Class 9 students during an internal assessment examination of schools run under the banner of Sufalam Shala Vikas Sankul, the report said quoting an official.

The Sufalam Shala Vikas Sankul is an organisation of some self-financed schools and educational institutions getting government grants in Gandhinagar, the state capital.

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Apart from this, the Class 12 students of the same group of schools were asked to write a letter to the district police chief complaining about “the rise in sale of liquor in your area and nuisance created by bootleggers.”

A cluster of self-financed schools and those getting grants included these two questions for internal assessment exams held on Saturday (October 12), the report said.

Speaking to PTI, Gandhinagar’s district education officer Bharat Vadher said that the questions were “highly objectionable” and that an inquiry has been initiated regarding the incident. “Action will be taken after the report comes in,” he assured.

He further clarified that the question papers were set by the management of these schools, run under the banner of Sufalam Shala Vikas Sankul, and that the state education department had nothing to do with it.

(With inputs from agencies)