RAIPUR: A class 4 half-yearly English examination at a govt school in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district stoked a major controversy here on Wednesday after a dog named ‘Ram’ appeared as one of the options for a multiple-choice question, with Right wing organisations holding a protest and raising questions over scrutiny of exam papers by the school education department. The matter came to light during the half-yearly English exam for the 2025–26 academic session on Wednesday. A multiple-choice question in the English paper read: “What is Mona’s dog’s name?” Among the four choices printed for the answer was ‘Ram’. As soon as the word got out, Right wing outfits and parents alleged that the question – invoking Lord Ram – was an insult to religious sentiments by invoking Lord Ram. Amid the backlash, district education officer (DEO) Vijay Lahare told TOI that an inquiry has been ordered into the matter. “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,” Lahre said. “It was not among the questions given to the printing press. Based on their response, we will decide on the course of action,” Lahare added. Members of Mahasamund district unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal submitted a memorandum to the collector and SP, describing the incident as “not just negligence but a deliberate attempt to hurt religious faith”. The memorandum stated that Lord Ram was “not merely a name but a symbol of devotion, culture and consciousness for crores of Hindus, and that using Ram in such a context was unacceptable and punishable”. The outfits demanded that all officials and staff involved in preparing and approving the question paper be booked for criminal offence, suspended immediately and dismissed from service. They threatened to launch a district-wide agitation if strict action was not taken within a week. Protesters took out a rally in the town and marched to the office of the DEO, raising slogans against him. They even torched his effigy on the office premises. A parent and Ward 21 resident, Vijay Mahato, also lodged a complaint at Mahasamund police station in connection with the objectionable question. “The question paper that students got wasn’t the one approved. But, owing to the confidentiality around examination papers, the issue came to light only after the paper was opened at the exam centre,” Lahare said. “There was no intention to hurt religious sentiments. As soon as the objectionable option came to our notice, we had it struck off the paper and replaced,” he added.
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