Thiruvananthapuram: Governor Rajendra Arlekar's directive to state-run universities to hold seminars, street and stage plays to mark 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' is widening the rift between Governor-appointed vice-chancellors and their universities. On Tuesday, the University of Kerala's Director of the College Development Council, Prof Biju V, resigned, but after unilaterally instructing affiliated colleges to seek approval from the "appropriate authorities" before acting on the Governor's order.

Earlier in the day, acting on the instructions of Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohanan Kunnummal, Prof Biju had written to all affiliated colleges asking for their "action plans" for the August 14 observance. But hours later, he sent another letter advising principals to first obtain consent from "appropriate authorities" before implementing the Governor’s directions.

In the second letter, Prof Biju said he had received calls and emails from colleges raising concerns over the first communication. They also noted that the Chief Minister had publicly stated the state government's opposition to the observance. "In this context, it is informed that any further step in this regard may be taken up with the consent of appropriate authorities," he wrote, signing as Director in-charge of the College Development Council.

Soon after, he resigned, as the second letter had been issued without the Vice-Chancellor's knowledge or consent, a source close to Prof Kunnummal said. "The VC accepted the resignation," the source added. Calls to Prof Biju went unanswered.

This is the second time Prof Kunnummal has acted against a senior university official in matters involving the Governor. On June 25, he suspended Registrar Dr Anil Kumar K S after the latter cancelled approval for the Sree Padmanabha Seva Samithi to hold an event at the University Senate Hall, citing the organisers' plan to display a portrait of Bharat Mata with a saffron flag on stage. Governor Arlekar was an invitee.

Despite the cancellation, the event went ahead, and the Governor attended. The VC later suspended Dr Anil Kumar, saying the cancellation had disrespected the Governor. The university Syndicate, however, revoked the suspension without the VC’s approval, triggering chaos. On July 11, the Raj Bhavan emailed all 14 state-run universities asking them to observe 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day', first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021.

On August 11, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan denounced the Governor's circular as "unconstitutional" and said the government would not "surrender our universities to the Sangh Parivar's political agenda of dividing people." Despite this, all vice-chancellors, most appointed on an ad hoc basis by the Governor, passed on the instructions to registrars for action. The University of Kerala, Kannur University, and APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) directed affiliated college principals to submit their 'action plans'. Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) announced it would hold a seminar to mark the day.

UDF-affiliated Senate members of Kannur University condemned the move to seek action plans from colleges. Later on Tuesday, the Left-controlled Syndicate of Kannur University passed a resolution rejecting the Governor’s circular and urged students and colleges not to cooperate with what it called an attempt to "communalise campuses and spread hatred".

India's Independence Day on August 15 is an occasion to recall the sacrifices of countless freedom fighters, including farmers, workers, and students, the resolution said. But the Union government was trying to distort history and fuel divisions by selectively recalling certain aspects of Partition. The tragedies of Partition, it said, were the result of British colonial policy, now being exploited for political gain.

"We appeal to students, teachers, and the general public not to cooperate with such attempts, and to remain vigilant against divisive campaigns that poison social harmony. We call upon all campuses to hold programmes that uphold fraternity, secularism, and peace, countering the communal agenda being pushed in the name of remembering the Partition tragedy," the resolution read.
Meanwhile, Kannur University's Director of Students' Service, Sujith K V, had emailed affiliated colleges asking for their "action plans" by 11 am on August 12 so they could be forwarded "urgently" to the Raj Bhavan.

Asked how many colleges had responded, Sujith said only Vice-Chancellor Prof K K Saju had the data. "And he did not get time to check the forms because he was busy with the Syndicate meeting," Sujith told Onmanorama. Separately, the whistleblower group Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) wrote to all vice-chancellors urging that no one be compelled to observe Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. Such measures, the letter said, would only undermine the unity, peace, and patriotism of society.