In a move drawing sharp criticism from student bodies and academics, both Kerala University and the University of Calicut have recently cancelled seminars relating to Kashmir and recent deadly attack in Pahalgam. The Vice-Chancellors of the two institutions cited national security concerns, with one labeling a proposed event “anti-national.”
The cancellations, which followed the circulation of event posters and articles critical of the Indian government, have sparked widespread protests and accusations of political bias and suppression of dissent in academic spaces.
Kerala University is at the center of a growing political and academic storm after the cancellation of a seminar by the Department of Tamil in the wake of the recent deadly attack in Pahalgam. Scheduled for May 9, the event was halted by the acting Vice-Chancellor, Mohanan Kunnummal, who labeled the session “anti-national.”
While the university refrained from initiating formal action against the research scholar who coordinated the programme or the Head of the Department (HoD), the development has stirred sharp political responses. The Students Federation of India (SFI) issued a strong condemnation of the Vice-Chancellor, accusing him of aligning with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideology.
The issue reached a flashpoint during a Syndicate meeting on Tuesday, where members associated with the Left and the BJP entered into a heated exchange over the seminar’s cancellation.
The controversy was triggered by a notice issued for a discussion planned under the ‘Friday Literary Circle’ at the Tamil Department. The organisers had also shared a link to an article titled “Pahalgam attack: Truths drowned in nationalist frenzy” from a Tamil-language website. The article criticized the Union government for manipulating nationalist emotions, especially in the context of the upcoming Bihar elections.
Following this, Prof. Kunnummal instructed the university Registrar to revoke the programme and demanded an explanation from the department head. In her response, HoD Hepsy Rose Mary A. expressed remorse and clarified that the event was organised without her prior knowledge. The research scholar who coordinated the programme also issued an apology. Considering their statements, the university opted against taking disciplinary measures. However, the Vice-Chancellor submitted a report on the incident to the Chancellor.
In response, the SFI accused Prof. Kunnummal of suppressing free expression for political motives. The student body also demanded a formal apology, alleging that students had been branded as “anti-nationals” and faced intimidation with possible investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The organisation announced plans for Statewide protests against the Vice-Chancellor.
Prof. Kunnummal, countering the accusations, stated that he had received multiple complaints from students concerning similar events. As a result, he directed the Registrar to audit the seminars and events held across departments over the past year. This internal probe will also examine whether it is a recurring practice for students to organise programmes without the consent or knowledge of department heads.
Justifying his decision, Prof. Kunnummal remarked, “Those who now call for peace were previously supportive of the Hamas attack on Israel. Such positions are part of a political agenda.” He added, “It would be inappropriate for the university to permit an event that criticises Operation Sindoor, which was launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack.”
Meanwhile, the University of Calicut (CU) also faced scrutiny for cancelling a seminar related to Kashmir that was to be hosted by the EMS Chair for Marxian Studies on May 15.
Sources indicated that the seminar’s theme revolved around the alleged genocide in Kashmir. CU Vice-Chancellor P. Raveendran, who also chairs the EMS Chair, is said to have rejected the proposal, citing the country’s prevailing socio-political context. The seminar was expected to feature noted women’s rights activist and former Planning Commission member Syeda Saiyidain Hameed as the speaker.
According to university officials, the event had not been communicated to the V-C in advance. Upon learning of the programme, Prof. Raveendran reviewed the relevant documents and issued orders denying approval for the seminar.
A senior official from the university clarified, “The poster of the programme has the slogan ‘Stop Killing in Kashmir’ which is very misleading. The country is going through a particular situation and holding such a programme at this juncture is not appropriate.”
The session, titled “Kashmiriyat and Hyper-Majoritarianism,” was called off after the Vice-Chancellor intervened. Left-aligned academics have since accused CU authorities of succumbing to pressure from the Union government to stifle dissenting academic voices.
Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, a Padma Shri recipient, was expected to headline the seminar. Her exclusion, critics argue, signals a broader climate of increasing control over university spaces and freedom of academic discourse.
