Ph.D. scholars of Periyar University accuse Tamil department professor of caste discrimination
Prof. T. Periasamy, who served as head of the Tamil department for the past 12 years, was moved from the post last month. He is also facing an inquiry by a committee formed by the State government in 2023 on charges of submitting a fake experience certificate to obtain employment.
The scholars' complaints against Prof. Periasamy were submitted to the Vice-Chancellor Committee, the administrative body that oversees the university's operations.
What are the allegations?
The scholars alleged Prof. Periasamy discriminated against them by not allowing them to complete their Ph.D. for several years.
One of the complainants, a Ph.D. scholar, belonging to the Scheduled Caste, told The Hindu that at Periyar University, the head of the department (HOD) serves as an ex-officio member of the doctoral committee. 'So even if we have different guides, the HOD decides our fate,' he said. He accused Prof. Periasamy of giving him 'a lot of trouble' and failing to recommend him for the prestigious University Research Fellowship (URF), while recommending other scholars, who he claimed belonged to the professor's caste.
'If we take a paper to him to sign, he would refuse and verbally abuse us,' he claimed.
'Made us do personal chores'
Another scholar from the Most Backward Community (MBC) claimed Prof. Periasamy 'made us go to the grocery shop and the bank, and forced us to pick up and drop off his children at their educational institutions. He also made us pour water over his house during its construction.'
He further claimed: 'From 2013 to 2022, due to discrimination and verbal abuse, 19 Ph.D. scholars discontinued their research. If a guide does not have a good relationship with Prof. Periasamy, he will not send their students' theses for evaluation, thereby making us run from pillar to post.'
The scholar said Prof. Periasamy was removed from the HOD post 'after many of us started to lodge complaints.'
'Different rules for scholars of his caste'
Another scholar, in her complaint, alleged Prof. Periasamy applied different rules for scholars of other castes and those from his own, and that he gave scholars from his caste opportunities to work at Periyar University as guest lecturers.
'Earlier, when we lodged a complaint with the former Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, the complaint was redirected to him. He then threatened us with dire consequences. Two weeks ago, we lodged a complaint with the administrative committee, but it has yet to take any action,' she alleged.
She urged the State government to look into the matter and take action against Prof. Periasamy.
Sources said besides the Ph.D. scholars, over six teaching and non-teaching staff of the university have lodged complaints against Prof. Periasamy for verbal abuse.
Prof. denies allegations
Denying all the allegations, Prof. Periasamy told The Hindu the Tamil department is the top department in the university, with the highest number of students clearing the National Eligibility Test (NET). 'I have never shown any caste discrimination and have strictly followed the rules. These are fabricated complaints,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Cops hunt down those behind casteist posts
Madurai: It has been barely ten days since C Kavin Selva Ganesh was hacked to death in a caste murder in Tirunelveli, but a simple search online will throw up anonymous social media posts with casteist undertones in Tamil supporting the accused Surjith. If outfits promoting their caste's history/culture used to be within closed communities before, it has now taken another form in the digital space. It is in this context that south zone police, through cyber crime police and social media cell, have intensified crackdown on those sharing, promoting casteist content and making such provocative comments on social media platforms. Prem Anand Sinha, inspector general of police (IG), south zone, told TOI that they have arrested 136 people this year across the zone who were involved in posting objectionable casteist and communal content on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). "The social media cell is monitoring the content on social media by links that get circulated and gain traction, and searching for hashtags and initiating action," he said. Objectionable casteist content can include anything from hate speech against a particular caste or community to displaying weapons or making certain gestures to showcase the 'pride' of a particular caste, the IG said. "There have even been cases of caste-based groups running fan clubs for people of a particular caste who even have criminal cases against them, and glorifying them. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 3 minutes, if you own a mouse Undo The mindset behind such activities on social media is that they can get away with it but it is not so," he added. According to official data, a total of 119 cases have been registered in 2025 across 10 southern districts, including Tirunelveli city, for objectionable casteist/communal posts on social media platforms. A vast majority of 79 cases were registered just in Tirunelveli district limits alone. It was a sizable increase compared to last year when only 33 cases were booked in the district. "Once we find objectionable casteist content, we can take steps to deactivate/block the account by making a request to the particular social media platform. Steps are also taken to delete/remove any inappropriate videos with casteist content," added Sinha. The cases are generally registered under sections 147, 352, and 353 of BNS, for promoting enmity between different groups, intentional insult, and statements conducing to public mischief. Activists meanwhile called for creating more awareness and sensitization among youths, particularly at school and college levels. "Caste violence is alarmingly being perpetrated by more youngsters than those of older age groups, particularly in districts like Tirunelveli. The need of the hour is a comprehensive caste sensitisation programme," said R Murali, state president, People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Tamil Nadu. Around 10 students in each college of different castes can be picked as ambassadors and activities such as debates, watching documentary screenings, book readings can be organised regularly to promote harmony and give them exposure to different perspectives, he said.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
Teacher suspended for casteist remarks
Trichy: A teacher at a govt-aided school in Nagapattinam was suspended on Tuesday for making derogatory remarks against students of a particular community during her class. This follows protests by parents and community members. The incident occurred at a minority-administered school near VOC Road on Aug 1. Sources said Maryam Francis, a Tamil teacher for Class XI, commented about some students' community and their ancestral occupation in class. The students told their parents about it. Outraged parents went to the school and demanded that the administration remove her for the remarks. Since no action was taken, around a hundred members of the thevar community, led by Mukkulathu Puligal Katchi, marched towards the office of the superintendent of police on Aug 3. Following police assurance of action, they dispersed. The community outfit submitted a petition at Velipalayam police station in this regard. Subsequently, the school education department recommended that the school take action. On Tuesday, the administration issued the order suspending the teacher.
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Madras HC orders notice to DGP over screening of film 'Kingdom'
Chennai, The Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered notice to the DGP, Commissioners of Police, Chennai and Coimbatore and Seeman, Chief Coordinator of Naam Tamilar Katchi in a petition relating to screening of the Tamil film 'Kingdom'. Madras HC orders notice to DGP over screening of film 'Kingdom' Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy posted to August 7, further hearing of the petition filed by M/s SSI Production, which sought a direction to the police authorities to provide adequate police protection to the theatres to enable the peaceful and uninterrupted screening of the film 'Kingdom', and further to restrain Seeman and his followers from interfering with the lawful screening of the film. In its petition, SSI Production submitted that it had recently bagged Tamil Nadu theatrical rights of the film titled 'Kingdom', which has been granted a valid certificate for public exhibition by the Central Board of Film Certification as U/A in accordance with the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The movie was directed by Goutam Tinnanuri and produced by Sithara Entertainments and lead actor was Vijay Deverakonda. The petitioner submitted that on August 4, Seeman issued a public statement opposing in his social media 'X' handle, the release of the said film alleging that it portrays the Tamil Eelam issue in a derogatory manner, and threatened to besiege theatres and forcibly stop the screening unless the movie was withdrawn. The petitioner said the movie was purely a work of fiction and in no manner hurts the sentiments relating to the Tamil Eelam issue. The said threat has been widely circulated through print and social media and has caused fear among theatre owners and staff. Some cinema hall owners have already expressed apprehension and reluctance to continue screening the film due to the fear of law-and-order disturbances. After the public statement of Seeman, party cadres sent letters to the theatre owners in Coimbatore and Chennai, the petitioner added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
