Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam Minister Roji M John on Saturday called for higher education institutions to remain centres of independent thought and constitutional values, saying it was “not at all befitting of a democratic society” for their heads to associate themselves with organisations promoting divisive agendas.
“Such tendencies, which surrender the privilege of academic autonomy before narrow political interests, question the very essence of education and teaching,” the state Higher Education minister said.
The minister’s remarks come amid differences between the state government and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who is chancellor of universities in Keralam, over various issues concerning state universities, including the appointment of vice-chancellors and nomination of Senate members. The issue also acquired an ideological dimension after some vice-chancellors participated in an RSS programme attended by its chief, Mohan Bhagwat, in June.
The minister said Teachers’ Day should be a reminder of the responsibility of teachers to build generations with humanity and without discrimination. Recalling Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India’s second President, he said Radhakrishnan believed in the importance of teaching and wanted his birthday to be celebrated as Teachers’ Day across the country. Referring to students being humiliated based on caste, he said those responsible had failed to understand the essence of teaching. “They failed to realise that the responsibility of teaching is to shape humane human beings from within classrooms,” the minister said.
