Why this PhD scholar refused to collect her degree from the Tamil Nadu Governor
In a video, which has now gone viral, Joseph is seen walking past the Governor even as he smilingly gestures to her to stand next to him to receive the degree. Joseph walks past him and gets her degree from the Vice Chancellor of the varsity, M Chandrasekar.
Speaking to The Indian Express, the 38-year-old said: 'I did not want to get my degree from a person who does not respect either Tamil Nadu or Tamil culture. The Governor does not respect Tamil people, and hence I decided not to get my degree from him.'
Joseph is also the spouse of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader M Rajan. 'But my decision not to accept the degree from the Governor came from my own conviction. My husband's politics had nothing to do with it,' she said.
Joseph said that she had been contemplating this for the past two days. 'I received the convocation invitation two days ago, and since then, I have been thinking about it. I also wondered whether my action could cause trouble for other candidates at the convocation,' she said. 'I decided to go for it at the last moment because I just couldn't get myself to accept the degree from him.'
'I know several young people who want to be doctors and want an exemption from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The governor sat on that Bill for long, and even now Tamil students are not exempted from NEET,' she said.
Ravi had refused to give his assent to several Bills passed by the state's Legislative Assembly. The Supreme Court had, in April, declared as illegal and erroneous his actions in reserving 10 Bills for consideration of the President in November 2024, after they had already been reconsidered by the state Assembly. The Bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan ruled that any subsequent steps taken by the President, too, do not survive.
'I think my decision would set an example for others to stand up to powerful people when they are wrong,' said Joseph, whose PhD is in Human Resources. She also has an MBA and a B.Com degree.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Andhra Pradesh govt acts on local status as per President's orders: AG Dammalapati Srinivas
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government is determining local status strictly in accordance with the President's orders, Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas informed the High Court on Wednesday. Appearing before a bench, comprising Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice R Raghunandan Rao, the AG said under the Presidential directives, only those students who have studied in the State consecutively for four years prior to the qualifying examination will be considered as local candidates. Agreeing with this view, the bench advised the petitioners to take the issue of local status to the Supreme Court for final adjudication. The court said it would issue detailed orders on the matter on Thursday. The petitions were filed by S Khamaruddin of Prathipadu in Guntur district, and Sanapala Venkataramana of Kotabommali in Srikakulam, along with 51 others, challenging the authorities' refusal to treat them as local candidates for medical admissions despite qualifying in NEET. They argued that the decision was based solely on the fact that they had studied their Intermediate education in Telangana.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Why did this PhD student from Tamil Nadu refuse to receive her degree from Governor RN Ravi at MSU convocation?
A bold act of protest at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University's 32nd convocation has become a talking point across Tamil Nadu. Jean Joseph, a PhD graduate in Human Resource Management, chose not to receive her degree from Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, challenging the long-standing tradition of students collecting degrees directly from the Governor, who is also the university's chancellor. Convocation ceremony in focus The convocation, held at V.O.C. Auditorium, conferred degrees to 37,376 students from 104 affiliated colleges and the university, spanning bachelor's, master's, MPhil, and PhD programmes. 759 graduates were present to receive their degrees in person, including 650 PhD scholars, and 109 medallists were honoured for academic excellence. The ceremony featured a convocation address by A P Dimri, Director of the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Traditionally, students pose for photographs with the Governor after receiving their certificates. In a surprising move, Joseph accepted her degree from Vice-Chancellor N Chandrasekar instead, bypassing Governor Ravi entirely. A stand for choice and Tamil identity During the convocation, Joseph bypassed Governor R N Ravi and chose to receive her degree from Vice-Chancellor N Chandrasekar, breaking with the traditional practice of posing with the Governor. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Most Expensive Ocean Cruise Tours & Trips Undo Explaining her decision to TNN, she said she acted 'only as a way to register protest against the governor, who has not contributed anything to the development of the state and has shown he is against the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. ' Adding to this, she mentioned that she 'believes in the 'Dravidian' model of governance.' She added further in a statement to ANI, highlighting her perspective on student choice and respect for Tamil culture: 'I believe the Governor has done nothing for Tamil Nadu or the Tamil language. Many others, such as the Chief Minister or the Education Minister, are more qualified to present degrees. It should be the student's choice. My fellow students appreciated my decision. If it were wrong, no one would have congratulated me. I don't want to take my degree from someone who does not respect our land, language, and identity.' Joseph emphasised that her protest was political in principle, not personal, and many students reportedly supported her for taking a stand for Tamil identity, language, and governance. Academic journey Jean Joseph has an impressive academic background. She completed her at Hindu College, Nagercoil, followed by an MCA at Mepco College, Sivakasi, before earning her PhD in Human Resource Management from MSU. Her research focused on human resource strategies and organisational development, preparing her for a career in academia and organisational consulting. Reactions and wider debate The incident has sparked discussions across campuses about student autonomy, ceremonial traditions, and political expression. As reported by TNN, BJP's Tamil Nadu president, K Annamalai, criticised the move as 'unnecessary and useless drama' aimed at political gain. Joseph's husband, Rajan, serves as the district student wing secretary of the DMK, adding a political dimension to her action. Many educators and students see her decision as an example of how ceremonial traditions can intersect with political awareness and personal principles, particularly in a state like Tamil Nadu, where student activism and regional pride have long been influential. Joseph's stand has become a reference point for discussions on whether students should have the freedom to choose from whom they receive their degrees, a debate that could shape convocation practices in the years to come. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
"Fascist DMK": Superstar Vijay Vocal Over Sanitation Workers' Protest
Chennai: Tamil superstar Vijay has ripped into the DMK government, accusing the MK Stalin administration of arresting sanitation workers at midnight when they were protesting peacefully for their rights. "Condemnation to the fascist DMK government for arresting sanitation workers, who have been peacefully fighting for their rights, in an inhumane and anarchic manner in the dead of night," said Vijay, who heads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party. Nearly 900 agitators were detained early this morning outside Ripon Building, headquarters of Greater Chennai Corporation, following a Madras High Court order to clear the protest site. Vijay alleged that some women workers fainted during the police action, while some sustained injuries while being dragged away. "Witnessing this midnight arrest operation, it is evident that violence has been unleashed on women to an extent that no one with a conscience can bear," he said, calling for immediate medical assistance and treatment for the injured. He also alleged that they have been detained at various locations and are unable to contact their families. "To detain them in a way that prevents even communication with their families-are sanitation workers anti-national elements? Does the ruling government have even a shred of conscience? Looking at this cruel action, it becomes crystal clear that what is happening in Tamil Nadu is not democracy but tyranny," said the actor. Calling for immediate release of the workers, he also demanded to know why the DMK government has not fulfilled promises made to them before the election. The sanitation workers had been protesting for the last 13 days outside Ripon Building. Stating that protesting on public footpaths is not permissible, a bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Sunder Mohan yesterday directed the state administration to clear the protest site. The judgment said the police must act with restraint and allow the protesters to continue their agitation at designated venues after due permission. The protesting sanitation workers opposed the civic body's plan to outsource conservancy operations in Zones V and VI, while also demanding permanent jobs, salary security, and the withdrawal of the privatisation move. But the government and the civic body defended the outsourcing plan, saying it would improve operational efficiency, ensure better waste management, and address manpower shortages - a model they claim has worked in other zones. However, worker representatives insist that privatisation would undermine job security and benefits and vowed to continue their agitation. Left parties have also criticised the court order, particularly when the court is yet to dispose their pleas on the jobs issue.
