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~