Kerala University Faces Backlash Over Pahalgam Seminar Cancellation, Ignites Free Speech Row

Tensions are mounting at Kerala University after the cancellation of a seminar organised by the Department of Tamil, following the Pahalgam terror attack. The university's acting Vice-Chancellor, Dr Mohanan Kunnummal, called off the May 9 event, citing concerns that the topic and materials shared in connection with it were "anti-national."

The Controversy 

The controversy erupted when a PhD scholar shared an article from a Tamil-language website in a departmental WhatsApp group, reported The Hindu. The article, titled "Pahalgam Attack: Truths Drowned in Nationalist Frenzy," critically examined the incident and suggested political motives behind its portrayal—particularly in the context of ongoing elections.

Despite the event’s cancellation, no disciplinary action was reportedly taken against either the scholar or the Head of the Tamil Department. The scholar was only issued a memo for which he later apologised, leading to the department’s decision to drop the contentious topic from the seminar agenda.

However, the issue has since spiraled into a political flashpoint. The Students Federation of India (SFI) has condemned the Vice-Chancellor’s intervention, alleging he is advancing a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) agenda under the guise of administrative neutrality.

Matters intensified during a recent University Syndicate meeting, where Left-aligned members criticized the VC for what they claim is a misrepresentation of the scholar’s intent, reported India Today. They noted that the article was shared before the Operation Sindoor counter-terror action began, challenging the rationale behind labeling the seminar anti-national. In response, BJP members in the syndicate supported the VC’s decision, defending it as a necessary step to uphold national sentiment.

The university community remains divided with debates continuing over academic freedom, political influence on campuses and the boundaries of discourse in sensitive national matters.

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