Kerala University PhD Scholar: A major controversy has erupted at the University of Kerala after PhD scholar Vipin Vijayan accused the Head of the Sanskrit Department, Prof. C.N. Vijayakumari, of caste-based discrimination and abuse of power. 🏛️
🔥 Allegations of Discrimination and Harassment
In a detailed Facebook post, Vipin Vijayan, a research scholar in Sanskrit, alleged that Prof. Vijayakumari—who also serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies—tried to block the award of his PhD on unfair grounds.
Vijayan claimed that the professor falsely told the university administration that he “did not know Sanskrit,” despite the fact that she had earlier guided his MPhil dissertation in the same subject.
“If I truly didn’t know Sanskrit, how did the same guide approve my MPhil dissertation?” he wrote, questioning the Dean’s credibility and motives in her report to the Vice-Chancellor. 🤔
🧑‍🎓 Scholar Claims Caste and Political Bias
Vijayan said the issue was not just academic but rooted in caste prejudice and political bias within the department.
He described himself as a left-leaning student, while alleging that Prof. Vijayakumari follows an RSS–BJP ideology and is an active member of a Sangh Parivar–affiliated teachers’ group at the university.
“This is not just about my degree—it’s about dignity and equality,” he wrote.
đź“š English Thesis Under Attack
The PhD scholar clarified that his doctoral thesis was written in English, which is fully allowed under university rules. He pointed out that many previous MPhil and PhD theses in Sanskrit were also written in English, and that open defence presentations can legally be held in English or Malayalam.
Despite these facts, he accused the Dean of misusing her position to overrule the recommendations of the Vice-Chancellor-appointed examiners and the open defence chairperson, both of whom had already approved his thesis.
⚖️ Scholar Demands Action
Calling the Dean’s actions an abuse of authority, Vijayan has demanded that Prof. Vijayakumari be removed from her post for violating academic ethics and attempting to sabotage his academic career. 🚨
He urged the university administration to protect students from caste discrimination and ensure transparency in academic evaluations.
💔 Comparison to Rohith Vemula’s Case
In his post, Vijayan drew a painful comparison to Rohith Vemula, the Dalit research scholar from the University of Hyderabad, whose tragic death in 2016 sparked national outrage over caste-based discrimination in Indian universities.
“I can relate to Rohith Vemula’s struggle,” Vijayan wrote, expressing fear that caste prejudice continues to affect students even today.
🗣️ What’s Next?
The University of Kerala has not yet released an official statement regarding the allegations. However, the incident has sparked widespread discussions on academic freedom, social justice, and discrimination in higher education.
Students and social activists are urging the university to conduct a fair and transparent inquiry into the allegations and to ensure equal treatment for all scholars, regardless of caste or ideology. ✊
🏷️ Keywords:
Kerala University caste bias, Sanskrit department controversy, Vipin Vijayan PhD case, Kerala University discrimination, academic politics in Indian universities
