The saying “Right man in the right position yields good results” has once again proven true — this time in the case of Kerala University. The timely intervention of Vice Chancellor Dr. Mohan Kunnummel prevented the organisation of a controversial seminar that aimed to amplify an anti-Bharat narrative linked to the Pahalgam terror attack.
The seminar, based on a Tamil article peddling false claims about the Modi government’s involvement in the Pahalgam killings, was set to be hosted by the University’s Tamil Department. However, once alerted to the agenda behind the event — as first reported by Organiser — the Vice Chancellor swiftly directed the University Registrar to halt the seminar and seek an explanation from the department’s head.
Acting on the VC’s strong stance, the Registrar promptly sought written explanations from both the Head of the Tamil Department and the student who had proposed the topic. They were subjected to scrutiny and warned of serious consequences should such attempts to misuse academic spaces for anti-national activities recur.
Kerala | Anti-#OperationSindoor campaign foiled in university by VC Dr Kunnummal
He stressed the need to guard against domestic enemies, saying while soldiers defeat external threats, internal ones must be tackled by the people.
By: T Satisanhttps://t.co/XMD2vLYd1H
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) May 13, 2025
With firm leadership at the helm, the University’s response sets a strong precedent: academic freedom cannot be misused to peddle separatist or false narratives. In this case, stringent action has ensured a firm goodbye to attempts at legitimising anti-national discourse in the guise of scholarly dialogue.
As per sources, Dr Hepsy Rose Mary A, an Associate Professor and Head of the Tamil Department, reported to the Registrar as follows:
“No seminar or discussion took place on May 9 in the Tamil Department, as mentioned in the Registrar’s notice. Seminars are supposed to be organised in the Department only after obtaining prior approval from the University.
Literary Discussion Forum Convener Gokulakrishnan S. Vellivattom had, on the afternoon of May 9, shared in the WhatsApp Group — comprising students and professors — the link to an article titled ‘Pahalgam Thakkoothal’ (Pahalgam attack), published by Vinav, a Tamil website. Usually, Tamil literature-related subjects are discussed in the Discussion Forum. If other subjects are to be discussed, they must be shared in the group only after obtaining prior permission from the Head of the Department.
However, in this particular case, the matter was not referred to me, as I was on duty on May 8 at Palayam University College in connection with the Project Viva Voce of the degree students. The subject was shared in the group without my knowledge or consent. When it came to my attention on May 9, I contacted the concerned student and made him understand the seriousness of the issue. I warned him and asked him to remove the link from the group immediately and told him in unequivocal terms that such a discussion should never be organised in the Discussion Forum.
The issue was discussed by the Department Council. The Council heard the student’s version and was convinced that the fault was unintentional on the part of the student. The student has been served with a memo based on the letter received from the Registrar’s office. He then furnished a written apology, admitting his fault and expressing that he had not realised the seriousness of the matter. He has promised not to repeat it.
Subsequently, an emergency meeting of the students and professors was convened in the Department. I issued a strict order to the students not to repeat such actions or make references that desecrate national integration. A circular was issued immediately in this regard.
As the Head of the Department, I express deep regret for the incident, which occurred without my knowledge. I hereby assure that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future within the Department.”
The Head of the Department attached the letter of apology she received from Gokulakrishnan, research scholar at Department of Tamil. The contents are as follows:
“I am the coordinator of the weekly Friday Literary Circle event in the Department of Tamil, University of Kerala. So, I shared the article in the WhatsApp Group and asked the students to discuss the article on the ‘Pahalgam Attack’ for this week’s discussion.
The Head of the Department, who read the article in the WhatsApp Group, did not permit it, strictly warned me, and said that such articles should not be discussed in the Department. She instructed me to delete it. I immediately deleted the article and changed the event topic to making a short story into a short film.
I did not post this article with any intention. I regret the mistake — I did it unknowingly — and I will not share such information in the Group from now on. I humbly apologise for sharing this kind of article in the WhatsApp Group.
This episode reveals a fact — a truth, a reality: if someone is present to state in unambiguous language that something is wrong, the wrongdoers will yield. Those following the development appreciated Vice Chancellor Dr Mohan Kunnummel for taking the right and timely steps against fissiparous tendencies.
Here is a summary of the controversial Tamil article:
“They are still carrying out the election campaign in Bihar using the Pahalgam killings. So, were the Pahalgam killings not carried out with the knowledge of the Modi government? This question naturally arises. They are using anti-national propaganda for fascist conspiracies.
Under these circumstances, the revolutionary-democratic forces in the country have to shoulder the responsibility of defeating the conspiracies of the Modi regime.
Fascist Trump’s tax policies and the failures of fascist forces have accelerated the crises they face. They are misusing the Pahalgam killings and invoking nationalism to overcome the aforementioned crises. Modi plans to utilise this for his electoral gains. The same is the case with the protests ongoing throughout the country against his actions, including the Waqf Amendment Act.”
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