The CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, presided over by CPM supremo and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has amended the circular it issued in connection with the National Higher Education Seminar. A fresh circular was issued after deleting the part stating “against UGC Draft Notification”. The earlier circular had instructed all teachers and staff of all universities in the state to attend the convention. Attendance was to be counted as duty, and travel expenses were to be borne by the universities.
Subsequently, Kerala University Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohan Kunnummel lodged a complaint against this before the State Governor, Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar. The Governor reportedly expressed his displeasure to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, stating that such a conference was in violation of the rules, as only the draft had been published so far. As a result, the government issued a fresh circular.
There is ample time to submit proposals on the draft until 28 February, yet the convention was organised before this deadline.
Meanwhile, members of the Kerala University Senate and Syndicate, nominated by the state Governor, did not attend the convention. This was stated by Syndicate members Vinodkumar T.G. Nair and P.S. Gopakumar, who said that Kerala’s academic community would recognise the political motive behind the convention.
The Governor’s actions have demonstrated that he will take firm and decisive steps, much like former Governor Dr Arif Mohammed Khan did during his tenure. Governor Arlekar proved his resolve on his very first day in office by countering the state government’s move to replace the security personnel of his predecessor. He insisted on reinstating the same security personnel, forcing the government to concede. This thwarted the state government’s plan to deploy the Home Ministry’s favoured personnel.
The people of Kerala are pleased to have a Governor they wished for—one similar to Dr Arif Mohammed Khan.
Interestingly, reports from Thiruvananthapuram, the venue of the seminar, suggest that only one Vice-Chancellor attended the event—the Vice-Chancellor of Thunchathu Ezhuthachan Malayalam University.
List of Eleven Universities in Kerala:
University of Kerala – Located in Thiruvananthapuram, founded in 1937 as the University of Travancore.
Mahatma Gandhi University – Located in Kottayam.
Calicut University – Located in Kozhikode, the largest university in Kerala.
Kannur University – Located in Kannur.
Kerala Agricultural University – Located in Thrissur.
Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies – Located in Kochi.
Kerala University of Health Sciences – Located in Thrissur.
Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University – Located in Wayanad.
National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) – Located in Ernakulam.
Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit – Located in Kalady.
Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University – Located in Tirur.
Deemed University:
Kerala Kalamandalam – Located in Thrissur.
It appears that the seminar held on Febrauary 20 was an attempt to unite non-BJP-ruled states of Dakshin Bharat to intensify an anti-Centre agenda. Vice-Chancellors distanced themselves from the seminar, as it was perceived as unconstitutional. This indicates that the senior academic leadership is unwilling to follow the CPM and Pinarayi Vijayan’s anti-Centre and anti-BJP movements.
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