SFI Intensifies Protest on Kerala University Campus

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The activists of the CPM-led Students Federation of India (SFI) stepped up their protest against alleged casteist remarks made by Kerala University Sanskrit Department head Dr C N Vijayakumari toward a PhD scholar.

The demonstrators blocked the vehicle of Vice Chancellor Dr Mohanan Kunnumal, demanding action against Vijayakumari, before being removed by police to clear the way. Protests continued on campus as students gathered in large numbers, calling for strict action against the Dean.

Earlier, during a University Senate meeting, CPM members demanded Vijayakumari's expulsion for alleged casteist remarks. This led to heated exchanges between CPM and BJP members.

The SFI has accused the vice chancellor of shielding the professor and alleged that Vijayakumari is associated with the Sangh Parivar.

It may be recalled that on November 9, the Sreekaryam police had registered a case against Vijayakumari, who is also Dean of Studies of the Faculty of Oriental Studies Kariavattom campus, based on a complaint filed by Vipin Vijayan, a research scholar who accused her of making casteist remarks.

The FIR alleged that Vijayakumari refused to sign the student's PhD thesis after his open defence on October 15. When Vipin approached her again, requesting her signature to complete the process, she allegedly made casteist remarks in front of other teachers and students.

Vipin also alleged that the HoD had been making similar caste-based comments since 2015, when he joined the MPhil programme at the Kerala University Kariavattom campus under her supervision.

Vijaykumari denies allegations

Vijayakumari has denied making any casteist remarks. She maintained that she refused to sign the thesis because the scholar lacked sufficient knowledge of Sanskrit and that his work contained several issues. It was also alleged that Vipin had plagiarised portions of his research paper from other works.

Meanwhile, the police have booked Vijayakumari under various sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities ) Act.