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Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Not against Vedan, but discuss academic subjects as required: SUCC
T'puram: Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) has denied the allegation that it opposed the inclusion of the work of rapper Hirandas Murali, popularly known as Vedan, in the Calicut University Malayalam literature syllabus. Committee chairperson R S Sasikumar said that the lack of academic common sense in asking BA Malayalam students to compare the music of Michael Jackson and Vedan should not be viewed as a plot against the rapper. "Vedan is an emerging artist in Kerala. Let the young man grow. Do not cast a shadow over his future by dragging him into controversies. Discuss academic subjects as academic subjects," the committee said. "Vedan's rap and Michael Jackson's pop are unique musical blends. Music is prioritised over poetry. Those creating the Malayalam BA syllabus should not ignore this. The most important issue is whether the rap song given as a study subject for students is appropriate for Malayalam degree students. The rap 'Bhoomi Njan Vazhunnaidam' cannot be claimed to have literary merit. There is an allegation that party politics is the reason for its inclusion," SUCC said in a statement here. SUCC also said that it is unclear whether literature and rap music should be compared. "Kuchelavritham was written by Muringoor Shankaran Potty. It depicts the devotional singing of the poor Brahmin Kuchelan during his great meeting with his friend Lord Krishna. Many great artists have performed this before, with slight variations, devoutly. Young singer Gauri Lakshmi beautifully sang this Kathakali Padam and released an album. However, its visual presentation has been criticised for not aligning with devotion and not being suitable for Kuchelavritham," the statement said. "But that's not the issue. Comparing these two renditions requires significant musical understanding. How can students who take Malayalam as an optional subject without a music requirement make this comparison? This could definitely be included in the syllabus for music degree students studying classical music," the committee said.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nixing of suspension: KU VC ridicules registrar's claims
Thrissur/T'puram: Kerala University acting vice-chancellor Mohanan Kunnumal on Monday criticized registrar K S Anil Kumar, saying there was no legal basis to the latter's claims that the university syndicate withdrew his suspension. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He was speaking to reporters after meeting the governor Rajendra Arlekar, who is also the chancellor of the university in Thrissur. "The syndicate has not met. The vice-chancellor should be chairing the syndicate meeting. Subsequently, the vice-chancellor should sign the order issued after the syndicate takes such a decision. Where is that order, who has signed it? There is no such order. The university statute makes it clear that whenever there is no syndicate, or senate or academic council, it is the vice-chancellor who is the syndicate, senate and academic council,'' Kunnumal said. The vice-chancellor dismissed the reports that about 2,500 degree certificates were pending as "blatant lies". He said only around 500 such files were pending. "Those files can be disposed of within minutes, once I reach there. But those who are on an agitation there have threatened that I will not be allowed to set my foot there at the university headquarters. I'm wondering why those who make such threats against the head of a university are not arrested. The police are actually giving protection to the agitators. They are trying to block even the online disposal of files. The protesters launched an agitation even in front of my wife's residence in Thiruvananthapuram. I'm not particular about going to the university, but my worry is about the children studying there. I'm not scared to go there, but I know the students and even the police may get injured, during the possible violence if I go there. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now I don't want that to happen. I'm a doctor and I know the consequences of such violence. I don't want even a drop of blood to be shed in my name'' Kunnumal said. He alleged that it was the registrar, not the vice-chancellor, who had precipitated such a crisis. The VC said he had briefed the governor on these details. He said he hoped that as the head of the state, the governor would take appropriate decisions in the best interest of the state, particularly the students. SUCC urges guv to revoke registrar's appointment Even as the tussle between the vice-chancellor and the registrar continues to affect the functioning of Kerala University, the Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) urged Arlekar to revoke the appointment of Kumar as registrar. Kunnumal stopped looking at the files cleared by Kumar, whom he suspended in connection with the Bharat Mata controversy. A large number of files, including degree certificates, are pending for the approval of the VC, who also ceased to attend his office in the university. SUCC said the very appointment of Kumar as the registrar was against university laws. As per the Kerala University statute 12 (14), deputation to the post of the university registrar should be given to central govt or state govt officials. "Kumar is a faculty member at a private college (Thiruvitamcore Devaswom Board College) under the university. He is continuing as the registrar based on a special order by the govt. This is against the university laws," the committee said. The service of a teacher from St Thomas College (a private college in Thrissur), who was appointed as registrar at Calicut University on deputation, was terminated following a quo warranto petition filed in the high court challenging the appointment, it pointed out. In Feb, the syndicate extended Kumar's appointment for four years. Although there were allegations of it being against the rules, all official members participated in the meeting to extend the appointment to protect the govt's special interest.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala University vice-chancellor makes scathing attack on registrar
1 2 Thrissur/T'puram: Kerala University acting vice-chancellor Mohanan Kunnumal on Monday criticized registrar K S Anil Kumar, saying there was no legal basis to the latter's claims that the university syndicate withdrew his suspension. He was speaking to reporters after meeting the governor Rajendra Arlekar, who is also the chancellor of the university in Thrissur. "The syndicate has not met. The vice-chancellor should be chairing the syndicate meeting. Subsequently, the vice-chancellor should sign the order issued after the syndicate takes such a decision. Where is that order, who has signed it? There is no such order. The university statute makes it clear that whenever there is no syndicate, or senate or academic council, it is the vice-chancellor who is the syndicate, senate and academic council,'' Kunnumal said. The vice-chancellor dismissed the reports that about 2,500 degree certificates were pending as "blatant lies". He said only around 500 such files were pending. "Those files can be disposed of within minutes, once I reach there. But those who are on an agitation there have threatened that I will not be allowed to set my foot there at the university headquarters. I'm wondering why those who make such threats against the head of a university are not arrested. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The police are actually giving protection to the agitators. They are trying to block even the online disposal of files. The protesters launched an agitation even in front of my wife's residence in Thiruvananthapuram. I'm not particular about going to the university, but my worry is about the children studying there. I'm not scared to go there, but I know the students and even the police may get injured, during the possible violence if I go there. I don't want that to happen. I'm a doctor and I know the consequences of such violence. I don't want even a drop of blood to be shed in my name'' Kunnumal said. He alleged that it was the registrar, not the vice-chancellor, who had precipitated such a crisis. The VC said he had briefed the governor on these details. He said he hoped that as the head of the state, the governor would take appropriate decisions in the best interest of the state, particularly the students. SUCC urges guv to revoke registrar's appointment Even as the tussle between the vice-chancellor and the registrar continues to affect the functioning of Kerala University, the Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) urged Arlekar to revoke the appointment of Kumar as registrar. Kunnumal stopped looking at the files cleared by Kumar, whom he suspended in connection with the Bharat Mata controversy. A large number of files, including degree certificates, are pending for the approval of the VC, who also ceased to attend his office in the university. SUCC said the very appointment of Kumar as the registrar was against university laws. As per the Kerala University statute 12 (14), deputation to the post of the university registrar should be given to central govt or state govt officials. "Kumar is a faculty member at a private college (Thiruvitamcore Devaswom Board College) under the university. He is continuing as the registrar based on a special order by the govt. This is against the university laws," the committee said. The service of a teacher from St Thomas College (a private college in Thrissur), who was appointed as registrar at Calicut University on deputation, was terminated following a quo warranto petition filed in the high court challenging the appointment, it pointed out. In Feb, the syndicate extended Kumar's appointment for four years. Although there were allegations of it being against the rules, all official members participated in the meeting to extend the appointment to protect the govt's special interest.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
SUCC petitions Governor against M. Swaraj's wife
The Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) has petitioned Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar seeking an inquiry into the alleged anomalies surrounding the conferment of PhD degree by Kannur University on Saritha Menon, wife of Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader M. Swaraj. In the complaint, SUCC chairman R.S. Sasikumar and convener M. Shajarkhan flagged purported irregularities in the university's decision to relax norms by granting her a mercy chance to enable her to submit her thesis, around 16 years after registering at S.N. College, Kannur. The mercy chance, SUCC alleged, was selectively given to benefit a politically connected individual. They urged the Governor to review the legality of the mercy chance and its implementation in doctoral research, and audit all PhD degrees awarded by Kannur University in the past 10 years to detect 'similar patterns of irregularity.'
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Report paints poor picture of state's higher edu sector'
T'puram: Contrary to the state govt's claims, the higher education sector in Kerala performed poorly in the 2025 NITI Aayog report . The report presented a dismal picture of the higher education institutions, especially state universities , Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) has said.. The think-tank said that the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) report highlighted that the density of universities and colleges in the state were far behind that of other states in south India. Moreover, only four of the total 14 universities in the state featured in the best 100 list. SUCC said that the state govt's attempt to reduce the universities into govt departments by taking away their autonomy would further harm the higher education sector in Kerala. "For the improvement of the higher education sector, the quality of state universities should improve significantly. The NITI Aayog report underlines the fact that the excellence of a few institutions like IIT and IISER is not enough to improve the quality of the sector as a whole," the committee said. The percentage of students between the age group of 18 to 23 pursuing higher education is 28.4% nationally. While it is 47% in Tamil Nadu and 43% in Himachal Pradesh, it is 41.3% in Kerala and 40% in Telangana. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch Bitcoin và Ethereum - Không cần ví! IC Markets BẮT ĐẦU NGAY Undo The figures, unlike what the higher education minister R Bindu claims, were not inspiring, SUCC said. Moreover, contrary to the claims of the state govt, the best student-teacher ratio in the country is not in Kerala. It is Tamil Nadu, with a ratio of 1:14, compared to 1:15 in Kerala. SUCC also said the govt should allow the universities to function as autonomous institutions and grow independently. The attempts to usurp the autonomy of state universities would only further weaken the institutions, they added.
