Chennai: A fresh controversy erupted at Madras University after an invitation surfaced on social media for a conference on “How to Spread Christianity in India” under the Sir S Subramania Ayyar Endowment Lectures, sparking outrage among scholars, Hindutva groups, and political commentators. The proposed event, scheduled for March 14, was allegedly orchestrated by Dr J Soundararajan, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology and was perceived as an attempt at Christian evangelism under the guise of academia.
Public Outrage and Political Backlash
The invitation, which went viral on social media, called for a lecture on “Why Need This Margam” (Why Need This Religion – Christianity). The program was to take place in the Modern Lecture Hall of Madras University, but as soon as the details came to light, there was widespread condemnation from scholars, netizens, and political leaders.
Political commentator and editor of Thuglak Tamil weekly, S Gurumurthy, took to X, calling out the event for attempting to convert not just individuals but also intellectual institutions. His post further fueled the outrage, prompting demands for immediate action against those responsible.
This does not add any merit to Xianity except to certify it will fraudulently convert not only individuals but also intellectual institutions https://t.co/akwjukDggM
— S Gurumurthy (@sgurumurthy) March 7, 2025
BJP Tamil Nadu functionary SG Suryah also questioned the legitimacy of such an event in a secular, taxpayer-funded institution. He raised concerns over whether this was an act of fundamentalism or fanaticism, highlighting that the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology should not be hosting a religiously charged program instead of focusing on academic research and archaeology.
Subramania Ayyar Endowment Lecture in “University of Madras” on “How to spread Christianity in India!” by one ‘Siva’ Kumar!
Fundamentalism? Fanaticism? Anyone? pic.twitter.com/umXYJWOkAl
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) March 7, 2025
Scholars and netizens alike were quick to slam the conference. Some questioned how a program explicitly aimed at religious proselytization was approved within a public university. Others were alarmed at how Christian evangelism was being subtly promoted under the guise of an academic discourse.
Subramania Ayyar Endowment Lecture in “University of Madras” on “How to spread Christianity in India!” by one ‘Siva’ Kumar!
Fundamentalism? Fanaticism? Anyone? pic.twitter.com/umXYJWOkAl
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) March 7, 2025
One user on X fumed, “How on earth are these topics related to archaeology? This is getting crazier by the day!” Many others labeled it as absurd, weird, and nonsense, highlighting the systematic attempts by evangelical groups to influence educational institutions.
Past Attempts of Religious Influence in Tamil Nadu’s Academia
This is not the first instance where Madras University has been linked to controversial religious influences. During the AIADMK government under MG Ramachandran (MGR), the university was directed to establish Chairs for Vaishnavism and Saiva Siddhantam studies to counterbalance religious biases in education.
In 2020, a similar controversy had erupted when the Department of Christian Studies at Madras University, in collaboration with Elon University (USA), attempted to hold a conference on “Containment, Collection, and Arrangement in South Asian Religion”. The conference topics ranged from temple architecture to Hindu religious narratives, raising suspicions of an anti-Hindu agenda. Advocate A. Aswathaman had commented at the time, “The range of topics listed made us suspect that it was going to be an anti-Hindu conference.”
பழம்பெருமைமிக்க சென்னை பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் "இந்தியாவில் கிருஸ்த்தவத்தை பரப்புவது எப்படி?" என்ற சொற்பொழிவை துறைத் தலைவர் ஒப்புதலுடன் ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டிருப்பது மிகவும் கண்டனத்துக்குரியது.
சுப்ரமணிய ஐயர் அறக்கட்டளையின் விதிமுறைகளின்படி தொல்லியல்துறை, தமிழர் வரலாறு, கல்வெட்டுகள்… pic.twitter.com/evrf10q06t
— En Mann En Makkal (@EnMannEnMakkal) March 8, 2025
As the controversy surrounding the March 14 conference escalated, Dr J Soundararajan—the professor allegedly behind the event—came under further scrutiny. BJP leader S.G. Suryah claimed that Soundararajan is a crypto-Christian, using his academic position to push an evangelical agenda. More shockingly, allegations surfaced that he has a history of sexual misconduct, with students reportedly having lodged multiple complaints against him. An internal inquiry committee was said to have been formed to investigate the accusations, though no official findings have been released yet.
Under mounting pressure from the public, Madras University officially announced the cancellation of the event. However, many critics, including S. Gurumurthy, have called for further action, stating that mere cancellation is not enough. He insisted that those responsible for attempting this fraud should be named, shamed, and held accountable.
The cancellation of the controversial event has been hailed as a victory for Hindutva groups and BJP functionaries in Tamil Nadu. Many have credited their proactive role in exposing and thwarting evangelical elements from influencing the university. The event also exposed the DMK government’s alleged minority appeasement, which, according to critics, emboldens such activities in state institutions.
It is a well-documented fact that, during the colonial period, education and educational institutions were designed as tools for religious conversion. In the first half of the nineteenth century, when the East India Company attempted to introduce the Bible as a mandatory subject in Madras’s educational institutions, it faced fierce opposition. In later years, evangelisation and conversions within educational institutions, tacitly supported by the colonial rulers, remained a point of conflict between the colonial forces and patriotic Indians. This conflict fuelled numerous agitations in Madras and furthered the freedom movement in the Madras Presidency.
When a publicly funded educational institution, under a government influenced by an ideology shaped by colonial forces, organises a lecture advocating the evangelisation of India, it evokes memories of the colonial era, when similar efforts were made in the same region. It also serves as a reminder that, while the white colonists are no longer present, the ideas and ideologies they propagated persist. These ideas continue to threaten not only the unity and integrity of the country but also the very roots of Indian traditions, calling for their eradication.
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