Kerala minister takes dig at university heads attending RSS events: ‘Not befitting of a democratic society’

Kerala Higher Education Minister Roji M John has criticised university heads for attending events linked to what he described as organisations promoting “divisive agendas”. His remarks appeared to target vice-chancellors who joined an RSS programme addressed by its chief, Mohan Bhagwat, in June.

In a Facebook post on Teachers' Day, John said higher education institutions should remain centres of independent thought and constitutional values. “It is not at all befitting of a democratic society that those heading institutions of higher education, which should be centres of independent thought and constitutional values, forget the dignity of the positions they hold and confine themselves to platforms of organisations that promote divisive agendas,” he wrote.

The minister had criticised the vice-chancellors' participation earlier as well, arguing that the office represented academic and administrative neutrality. “Such tendencies, which surrender the privilege of academic autonomy before narrow political interests, question the very essence of education and teaching,” he said.

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It is not at all befitting of a democratic society that those heading institutions of higher education, which should be centres of independent thought and constitutional values, forget the dignity of the positions they hold and confine themselves to platforms of organisations that promote divisive agendas.

The controversy has unfolded alongside differences between the Kerala government and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who serves as chancellor of the state's universities. Their disagreements include the appointment of vice-chancellors and the nomination of Senate members, giving the dispute an institutional and political dimension.

The RSS plans to conclude its centenary celebrations with a programme in New Delhi in November, which Bhagwat is expected to address. A functionary said the event is likely to take place on November 29. The organisation, founded in Nagpur in 1925, began its centenary celebrations last year on Vijayadashami, October 2. Programmes have taken place across India and abroad, while Bhagwat has visited nearly all of the RSS's 46 provinces and addressed gatherings in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The organisation said senior functionaries, including Dattatreya Hosabale, had also travelled extensively.

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Such tendencies, which surrender the privilege of academic autonomy before narrow political interests, question the very essence of education and teaching.