Historians and teachers hit out at Kerala Governor over remarks on Kannur University VC

Terming Khan’s remark “harassment”, a bunch of round 50 historians and teachers got here out in Ravindran’s assist and mentioned the governor’s assertion constitutes a “false, defamatory and politically motivated campaign”.

“We are shocked to learn from the media that the Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammad Khan, has described the Vice Chancellor of Kannur University, the eminent historian, Professor Gopinath Ravindran as a “criminal.” Professor Gopinath Ravindran is certainly one of India’s main historians, with a specific specialisation within the agrarian historical past of Kerala and historic demography,” they mentioned in an announcement.

“He was Head of the Department of History and Culture at the Jamia Millia Islamia Central University, New Delhi, and has been Member Secretary of the Indian Council of Historical Research.  He has also been Director, Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution at the Jamia Millia Islamia. As Vice Chancellor, Professor Gopinath Ravindran has led the Kannur University with distinction,” they additional mentioned.

The Governor, they mentioned, “has on earlier occasions questioned the re-appointment of Professor Ravindran as Vice Chancellor in press statements” however identified that the High Court had dismissed a writ petition that sought to take away Professor Ravindran from the put up.

“The false, defamatory and politically motivated campaign against the Vice Chancellor by the Governor and the Chancellor of the University is unacceptable. The Governor must stop this harassment of a distinguished historian and Vice Chancellor immediately,” the assertion mentioned.

Among the signatories are eminent historians Romila Thapar and Ok N Pannikar and     teachers Prabhat Patnaik, Aditya Mukherjee, Mridula Mukherjee, CP Chandrasekhar, Zoya Hasan and Harbans Mukhia.

Khan has had many face-offs with the Kerala authorities since his appointment as Governor in 2019. The newest tussle is over his determination to remain the appointment of Priya Varghese, spouse of Ok Ok Ragesh, CPI(M) chief and personal secretary to the Chief Minister, as affiliate professor in Kannur University’s Department of Malayalam over alleged violation of norms and favouritism.