Despite protests and threats from Left-Jihadi groups, the full version of Vande Mataram was rendered on October 6 at two university programmes in Keralam — one at the Central University of Kerala (CUK) in Kasargod and another at the convocation ceremony of Calicut University in Malappuram.
At the Central University of Kerala, the rendition took place during a two-day National Seminar on the ‘150th Anniversary of Vande Mataram’.
The seminar, being held on October 6 and 7, 2026, is organised by the Sahitya Akademi in collaboration with the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad and CUK as part of the nationwide observance marking 150 years of Vande Mataram.
The rendition of the full version came despite protests by workers of SFI of CPM, KSU (Kerala chapter of NSUI led by Congress), MSF of Indian Union Muslim League and AISF of CPI. The protesters tried to barge into the seminar hall, but the police stopped them, leading to pushing and shoving.
They also protested against the presence of Prajna Pravah national convener J. Nandakumar, who delivered the keynote address.
The protesters had taken a stand that they would block J. Nandakumar from entering the campus because, according to their leaders, they ‘would not allow the RSS leaders to deliver speeches’. The protest was therefore also directed against the participation of Nandakumar in the university programme.
The controversy followed a circular issued by the University warning of stringent action against anyone attempting to interrupt the rendition of Vande Mataram. The circular cited the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which amended Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, to make insulting or disrupting the singing of Vande Mataram a punishable offence. Three years’ imprisonment and a penalty are the punishments under this.
The leaders of the protesters described the circular as a threat against them. Despite the protests and the attempt to disrupt the programme, the full version of Vande Mataram was rendered at the seminar.
The two-day seminar focuses on the historical, literary and cultural significance of Vande Mataram, with several scholars presenting papers on the subject.
Delegates from various academic departments of CUK, office-bearers of the Sahitya Akademi, prominent writers, professors, researchers and students participated in the programme.
The valedictory ceremony of the seminar will be held on October 7, with Rajendran Viswanath Arlekar, the Governor of Keralam and Tamil Nadu, scheduled to be the chief guest.
The full version of Vande Mataram was also rendered at the convocation ceremony of Calicut University in Malappuram on October 6.
Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar, the Kerala Governor as well as Chancellor of the varsity, was the chief guest.
Honorary D.Litt degrees were awarded to famous Malayalam filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad and industrialist P.K. Ahmmed, while reputed scientist E.D. Jemmis was awarded a D.Sc.
Higher Education Minister and Pro-Chancellor Roji M. John reportedly did not turn up despite being scheduled to participate in the convocation. Vice-Chancellor Prof. P. Raveendran participated in the ceremony, while Syndicate members belonging to the Left parties did not attend.
Unlike the CUK programme, there was no protest against the rendition of Vande Mataram at the Calicut University convocation.
