Statement by Concerned Academics Against the Dismissal of Prof M. V. Narayanan, Vice-Chancellor, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Kerala, India
March 2024
We, the undersigned, condemn the decision of the Governor of Kerala who is also the Chancellor to dismiss Prof M. V. Narayanan, Vice-Chancellor, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit-Kalady [SSUS]. We fear that the dismissal is politically motivated.
The current political climate in India is witnessing a disturbing trend towards the imposition of a majoritarian state, particularly rooted in Hindutva ideology. This trend seeks to transform the secular and pluralist Indian nation into a monolithic entity based on religious majoritarianism. The dismissal of Prof M. V. Narayanan represents an assault on the diverse cultural fabric, identities and existences that constitute our nation. Higher Education Institutions [HEIs] across India are now being targeted as tools to further the political agenda of the Union Government. Structural surveillance and interference in HEIs in India, especially in universities and research institutions, serve to stifle independent research, critical thinking and the promotion of constitutional values. Such interventions are designed to control the progressive development of secular democracy and the ethos of liberal and progressive academia.
As a member of The Shyam Menon Commission, Prof M. V. Narayanan has played a pivotal role in critically reimagining the market-driven National Education Policy [NEP] and advocating for a socially inclusive alternative for Keralam, which challenges the political agenda and business motives embedded in NEP. The implementation of this report has led to a paradigm shift, which is positively revamping the higher educational scenario of the state, and is at odds with the Hindutva agenda of the Union Government and its representative in Kerala, the Governor, Mr. Arif Muhammand Khan. The Governor’s decision to dismiss Prof. M. V. Narayanan from the Vice-Chancellorship has emerged from this political motive, and it has brought about a state of uncertainty in the University. The dismissal of the Vice-Chancellor is intended to undermine and backtrack all academic initiatives of the University.
The SSUS, we learn to our delight, has already designed a unique Four Year Under-Graduate Programme [FYUGP] in which Sanskrit pedagogy is strengthened from its basics, and the research in Sanskrit assumes an interdisciplinary orientation. This innovative mode has become successful in attracting the attention of the global circles of Sanskritists, Indologists and Historians. The SSUS became the first public HEI in Kerala to be a partner in the prestigious Erasmus-Plus Agreement with European Universities. The structural reforms that have been introduced by him have also enabled the University to overcome a prolonged era of financial crisis.
As a seasoned academic and institution-builder, his erudite scholarship and tireless efforts have propelled SSUS into the global academic space. His scholarly endeavours have not only enhanced the University’s reputation but have also established it as a hub of worldwide academic enquiry. The study of Sanskrit, with its various ramifications such as in vyākaraṇ, nyāya, vedānta and sāhitya, is facing a serious crisis all over the world. In the circumstances, to put spokes in the wheel of one of the few centres where all these studies are going on in a commendable manner, is highly condemnable. That such a hazardous act to Sanskrit and the study of Indian culture should come from an angle which pays lip service to the promotion of Indian culture exposes the dishonesty of those quarters.
We understand that the dismissal of Professor Narayanan is also opposed to law. In the circumstances, we appeal to the Chancellor of SSUS, the Governor of Kerala, to revoke the dismissal with immediate effect.
Prof. P.K. Michael Tharakan
Prof. Rustom Bharucha, (Retired Professor JNU), Leverhume Fellow
Prof. E. V Ramakrishnan, Central University of Gujarat
Dr.J Devika, Feminist Scholar
Prof. Susie Tharu, Feminist Scholar and Writer
Prof. Jacob Tharu, Hyderabad
Prachi Vaidya Dublay, Ahmedabad University
Dr Chanthu S , Assistant professor Mount Carmel college Bangalore
Dr Ratnakar Tripathy , Cultural Anthropologist
Dr. Divya Nedugadi, Dept of Performing and Fine Arts, GITAM Bengaluru
Dr Myhamned Niyas , GITAM University
Dr. Sabah Siddiqui, KREA University
Dr. K.N.Harilal, Professor (Rtd.), CDS, Trivandrum.
Dr. Uma Maheswari Bhrugubanda, Department of Cultural Studies, EFL, Hyderabad
Gerald G Netto, Senior Lecturer, University of Eastern Finland
K. N Ganesh, Chairperson KCHR, Thiruvananthapuram
Prof. Kesavan Veluthat, Retired Professor University of Delhi
Dr A K Jayasree, Department of Community Medicine, Pariyaram Medical College.
Prof. David Ludden, New York University, USA
Dr. K. Ravi Raman, Member, Planning Board
Mr. M.Mukundan, Writer and Social Critic
Prof. A.K. Ramakrishnan, JNU
Dr. Manu Devadevan, IIT Mandi
Dr. Sudha Gopalakrishnan, Sahapedia
Prof. P.P. Raveendran, M.G. University
Prof. Udayakumar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Dr. Ranjini Krishnan,KREA University
Dr. Ameet Parameswaran, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Prof. Anuradha Kapur, Theatre Director, Former Director of National School of Drama
Prof. Urmimala Sarkar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Prof. Dinesan Vadakkiniyil, Director, Kerala Council for Historical Research
Prof. Sanal Mohan, M. G. University, Kottayam
Prof. M.T. Ansari, University of Hyderabad
Prof. V.J. Varghese, University of Hyderabad
Prof. A. R. Venkatachalapathy, Historian and Author
Prof D.D. Nampoothiri, Formerly Executive Director, CREST, Kozhikode
Dr. C. J George
Dr John Thomas, IIT Guwahati
Dr Justine Mathew, University of Delhi.
K.J. Jacob, Deccan Chronicle, Chennai
Prof. Bishnupriya Dutt, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Prof. Ayesha Kidwai, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Dr. Brahma Prakash, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Dr. Mathew A Varghese,School of International Relations and Politics, M G University, Kottayam
Dr. Jayaseelan Raj, University of Goettingen, Germany
Prof. Maitreyee Chaudhuri, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Prof. T. V. Madhu, University of Calicut
Prof. K. M. Anil, Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University
Dr. Fathima E. V. Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University
Prof. Sumangala Damodaran, Washington University, USA
Dr. Dileep Raj, Govt. Brennen College, Thalassery
Dr. Satheese Chandra Bose, Maharajas College, Ernakulam
Dr. Mini Sukumar, Planning Board, Govt. of Kerala
Dr Muraleedharan Tharayil
Dr. Arathi PM, School of Indian Legal Thought, MGU
Prof. M.H Ilias, School of Gandhian Thought and Development Studies, MGU
Dr. Bindu K. C, School of Human Studies, Dr B R Ambedkar University, Delhi
Dr. Abhilash Thadathil, CDS, Trivandrum
Dr. Bindu Menon, Azim Premji University
Dr. Rekha Raj, Independent Research Scholar
Dr. Dev Nath Pathak, South Asian University, New Delhi
Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Central European University, Vienna
Dr. Rajanandan K.B., Kerala Kalamandalam
Dr. Jojin V John, School of International Relations and Politics, M G University, Kottayam
Dr. Silpa Satheesh, School of Social Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University
Prof. Noushad P.P, School of Gandhian Thought and Development Studies, MGU
Prof. Aju K Narayanan, Professor, School of Letters, M G University.
Dr. Sajitha Madathil, Actor
Mr. O. P Raveendran, Writer, Activist, Kerala
Dr Suresh Madhavan, Centre for Social Theory, TISS, Mumbai
Mr. Kesavan PN, Kalamandalam
Dr. Senthil Babu, Pondicherry.
Mr. K. S Renjith, Editor,Chintha Publications.
Dr. Abey Thomas, Chengannur Christian College
Dr. Sreebeetha, P. V, Kannur University
Prof. K. S Madhavan, Calicut University
Prof. R. V.M. Divakaran, Calicut University.
Prof. P. K Pokker, Calicut University
Dr. Emmanuel Simon, Calicut University
Dr. Lajish V. L, Calicut University
Prof. Baby Shari P. A, Calicut University
Prof. K. Manikandan, Calicut University
Dr. P. P. Abdul Razak, Executive Member, KCHR
Dr. P. V Sajeev, Arts and Science College, Kozhikode
Dr. Ramdas Puthusery, Govt. College, Malappuram
Dr. Mujeebu Rehman, University of Calicut
Dr. Sreedevi P. Aravind, Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University.
Dr. K. S Hakim, Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University.
Dr. Racheal A. Varghese, Fulbright Fellow, University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Satheesh Palanki, Calicut University
Dr. Charles Varghese, Indira Gandhi National University, M. P
Dr. Manas Ghosh, Jadavpur University
Dr. Shahana, Calicut University
Prof. K. K. Kunhammad, Kannur University
Prof. Haneefa, University of Calicut
Dr. Harikumaran Thampi, University of Calicut
Dr. Vijil Paul, Historian and Author
Dr. Aparna Eswaran, School of International Relations and Politics, M G University
Dr. Bijulal M V, School of International Relations and Politics, M G University,
Dr. Lirar Pulikkalakath, School of International Relations and Politics, M G University
Mr. K. Krishnaraj, Archaeologist.
Prof. Milija Gluhovic, University of Warwick
Prof. Silvija Jestrovic, University of Warwick
Dr. Benil Biswas, Ambedkar University
Dr. Anita Cherian, Ambedkar University
Dr. Rajdeep Konar, IIT Jodhpur
Rizio Yohannan, Writer
Dr. Indu Jain, Delhi University
Dr K N Sunandan, Azim Premji University
Mr. Sreejith Divakaran, Writer
Prof. Ishita Mukhopadhyay, Department of economics, Calcutta University
Prof. Satish Poduval, EFL University, Hyderabad
Muhammed Afzal , Azim Premji University
Prof. Satish Poduval, EFL University, Hyderabad
Dr Ardra Neelakanthan, Christ University~