A Kerala college with RSS links claiming to be “India’s first JNU-affiliated journalism college” drew a clarification from JNU officials, who sought to distance themselves from the institute, stating that it is “not recognized by or affiliated to” JNU and had “only signed an MoU for PG Diploma courses with the aim of academic collaboration.”
The Mahatma Gandhi College of Mass Communication (MAGCOM), located in Kozhikode and operating from Kesari Bhavan, the headquarters of Kesari, an RSS-affiliated publication, is set to hold its first convocation on April 17 and has announced that JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit will be attending the ceremony.
According to the Indian Express report, the JNU official’s claims contradict information on JNU’s website, where MAGCOM is listed as a “recognized research institution” among several others, with the site stating that “JNU has granted recognition and accreditation to the following prestigious institutions across the country,” adding that this has contributed to “the true national character of the University,” and that there is mutual participation between JNU and these institutions in various academic and statutory bodies.
N. R. Madhu, Chief Editor of Kesari, the RSS mouthpiece in Kerala, is the official mentor of MAGCOM.
“The school was set up with an aim to develop nationalistic journalism. This is a time when several anti-national elements are at play in the media, and we want to nurture nationalistic journalism,” said N. R. Madhu.
College Director A. K. Anuraj claimed in a statement to The Indian Express that the PG Diploma in Mass Communication course was granted affiliation by JNU in 2024, following a process that spanned a year.
“Our students were given JNU enrolment numbers and their degrees will be offered by JNU,” he said.
An invitation sent out by organizers for the convocation reads, “India’s first JNU-affiliated journalism college is gearing up for a historic milestone… Our first convocation ceremony.”
Meanwhile, The Indian Express quoted JNU officials stating, “There is no recognition or affiliation of the institute with JNU. JNU only signed an MoU for PG Diploma courses. This is only limited to academic exchanges and sharing of expertise.”
An X post of Senior RSS pracharak J. Nandakumar in 2024 states, “Now it is official.. Mahatma Gandhi College of Mass Communication has become the only media study center recognized by the world’s leading university, JNU, with the signing of the MoU by Mr. JNU VC Prof Santishri D Pandit and Magcom Director Anurag. It was a great privilege to witness this legendary moment in the educational history of Kerala.”
A news report in The Hindu published in May 2024 also confirms this.
