Kerala CM slams Maharaja's College chair-burning

Kochi: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday criticized the burning of Maharajas College Principal’s chair by protesting students saying such “shameful incidents” will always be a scar against the good reputation of the institution.

“It’ll take only a few people to bring a bad name to good institutions. Even though an institution generates good and exemplary people and models, people will remember and later point out only such shameful incidents,” Vijayan said while speaking at the inauguration of ‘Maharajakeeyam’ the four-yearly alumni meet of Maharaja’s College in the city.

His remarks brought surprise as it was the activists of the Left-affiliated Students Federation of India who were behind the chair burning incident in January last.

The chief minister also took a dig at the college authorities. “If something wrong happens, both sides should make introspection and take corrective action. The teachers should be able to correct the young students because the students are passing through a period in their lives when they are ready to challenge everything,” he said.

However, he clarified he was very much in favour of politics in campuses. “Campuses must have politics. But not the politics of physical confrontation instead it should be that of creative ideological exchanges. If the campuses are rid of politics, they will be dominated by divisive forces and powers that spread divisiveness through religious and other differences. Campuses of educational institutions should be a place for constant dialogues,” he said.

The chief minister said the government already gave nod for projects estimated to cost Rs 25 crore for development activities of the college. “Also Rs 46 crore projects for the college’s development is in the consideration of the government. New courses will also be started,” he said.

There was a long list of dignitaries who attended the alumni meet including Finance Minister Thomas Issac, Cine star Mamootty, former union minister Vayalar Ravi, LDF Convener Vaikom Vishwan, P T Thomas MLA and Infosys co-founder S D Shibulal. The meet presided over by P S Gopinath, President of the old students’ organization, also felicitated Prof M K Sanu.

Meanwhile, the alumni meet saw old friends reliving their student life. Actor Mamootty told the gathering that after so many years he had forgotten the name of his best friend but still remembered his nick name. Though he tried to find out the friend from among the audience, the attempt failed.

Finally it was P T Thomas MLA who helped me locate Abdul Rahman,” he quipped. The joy of Rahman too knew no boundaries since his “best friend” came looking for him despite attaining superstar status. “For five years, we used to daily travel in ‘Students Only’ bus together,” he said.