KOZHIKODE: National Institute of Technology-Calicut (NIT-C) decision to promote Prof Shaija Andavan, who was booked by the police for praising Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse in 2024, as the dean kicked up a row with Congress and DYFI protesting against the decision. NIT-C issued an order on Monday appointing her as the dean (Planning and Development) for two years. Andavan will replace Prof Priya Chandran from the department of computer science and engineering when her appointment comes into effect on April 7.
In Feb 2024, Kunnamangalam police had booked the mechanical engineering professor under IPC Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with the intent to cause riot) for writing a comment – Proud of Godse for saving India – under advocate Krishna Raj’s Facebook post that labelled Godse as a hero for many Indians.
Also, some faculty members alleged that seniority norms were not followed in her appointment. But NIT-C said that the NIT-C Act and statutes were followed in Andavan’s case.
DCC president K Praveen Kumar said the move to recognize a person who insulted Mahatma Gandhi is unacceptable. “We will resist this move and begin public protests. We will take out a march to NIT-C with a demand to withdraw this decision,” he said.
DYFI state secretariat issued a statement that Andavan’s social media comment praising Godse on Gandhi’s death anniversary had sparked much condemnation. NIT-C, an institution under the control of Centre, appointed her as the dean of planning and development, bypassing seniority though she has not become a department head, it added. DYFI staged a protest march to NIT-C in the afternoon with a demand to revoke the decision.
Andavan was given this post because she supports the divisive, communal politics of Sangh Parivar. They gave a top post to someone who said that the assassin of the Father of the Nation is the pride of India. She is unfit to be a teacher of that institute, it said.
NIT-C has six deans, namely academic, international, alumni and corporate relations, faculty welfare, planning and development, research and consultancy and students welfare.
