Overview

• Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal cancelled a May 9 seminar by the Department of Tamil, citing its 'anti-national' content and political implications.
• The seminar aimed to examine the Pahalgam terror attack, its security lapses, and its potential links to the Bihar elections, but was dropped after an article critical of nationalist narratives was circulated.
• The Students Federation of India accused the Vice-Chancellor of suppressing free speech and aligning with RSS politics, while Left and BJP-backed syndicate members clashed over the issue.
• No disciplinary action was taken against the organisers, though the Vice-Chancellor submitted a report to the Chancellor and ordered a year-long review of past seminars.
• The controversy reflects broader tensions over academic discourse, institutional governance, and nationalist narratives in the lead-up to the Bihar elections.