Online learning platform Unacademy has found itself in the middle of a raging controversy after a question paper in an online assignment on the Indian Penal Code (IPC) went viral on social media platforms. One of the questions on the platform’s Law Test Module read: “In a city named X, a group of Muslim people were carrying out their rally on the occasion of Eid. They were chanting their slogans and were celebrating their festivals. When they were passing through the streets of a Hindu dominated colony, the Hindus of the area started pelting stones at them and claimed that they outraged the religious feelings of Hindus. Is the claim correct?”
The audacity of the platform to publish a hinduphobic statement masquerading as an entrance exam question exposed the rot within the company, which recently turned unicorn. The sheer Hinduphobia dripping from the question is enough to make one understand the hatred present for Hindus at large amongst the educators of the platform.
Immediately after the vitriolic question went viral, the netizens started slamming Unacademy for not scrutinising the question and showing its true credentials.
Great
you are meant to provide education but you guys are imparting an education where people one religion will start hating the people of other religion!!
Good job in creating a rift!!🙄🙄#Unacademy— Vignesh (@IyerVignesh2) May 19, 2021
https://twitter.com/TapanBurman3/status/1394973623614681092
Pic 1: The Propaganda.
Pic 2: The Reality.CC: @unacademy pic.twitter.com/67x167hc0Q
— INDIA WAKES UP 🇮🇳 (@IndiaWakesUp_) May 19, 2021
The outrage over the Hinduphobic question forced the educational technology company to release an apology where it remarked that the mock IPC examination paper containing the controversial question was taken down off the platform. They said that any hurt or offence caused is deeply regretted, and added that they unconditionally regret the reference to religions.
“The test paper has been taken down from the platform with immediate effect. Further, future test papers will be scrutinised and modified in accordance with our policies to ensure that it is religion, community, and race agnostic.” read Unacademy’s statement.
The platform further claimed that the question paper was prepared by a third party. Whether or not it is the truth, a Hinduphobic question got published and until the netizens caused a clamour, it was not taken down. Thus Unacademy was simply looking to save itself from the controversy.
“Unacademy unconditionally regrets the references to religious matters in a mock exam. The question papers were prepared by a third-party and we have initiated action to tighten our internal review and quality process and ensure no misrepresentation on matters of religion creeps into out content.”
Our official statement in light of the current event. pic.twitter.com/QI8bS3ghbN
— Unacademy (@unacademy) May 19, 2021
While the question said that Hindus pelted stones on a Muslim group, the reality is more often than not different. Hindus, despite being a majority in the country are meted a second class treatment in Muslim dominated areas. Myriad cases around the country can be listed to prove the accuracy of the claim. However, Unacademy, claiming to help the students and future officers was using its anti-Hindu propaganda to subtly whitewash the reality.
