After early confusion, Governor confers all degrees at MSU convocation

Confusion erupted at the 33rd convocation ceremony of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) on its Abhishekapatti campus in Tirunelveli district on Tuesday (July 28) even before the formal proceedings began.

Hundreds of candidates, primarily PhD scholars who had waited years for the proud moment of receiving their degrees directly from the Governor and Chancellor, voiced disappointment after a reported announcement altered the schedule.

The confusion was later cleared, and the event proceeded smoothly. According to the official Lok Bhavan Tamil Nadu X handle, the Governor conferred degrees on 950 meritorious students.

Congratulating the graduates, Rajendra Arlekar urged them to uphold the values of knowledge, integrity, innovation, and selfless service

Convocation disrupted

The student unrest came even as the convocation was already mired in controversy over the order in which the state song Tamil Thai Vazhthu was to be played. Originally, the university had announced that over 900 students would receive their degrees in person from Arlekar. Around 37,000 other students were scheduled to receive their degrees in absentia.

B. Madhusoodhana Kurup, founding Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, was slated to deliver the convocation address as the chief guest.

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Shortly before the ceremony, it was reportedly announced that, owing to Governor Arlekar's health, he would confer medals on only 113 medalists. The chief guest would instead hand over the degrees for the remaining candidates. The announcement triggered protests inside the convocation hall.

Students protest

Candidates expressed deep frustration over the abrupt change. "We have worked hard for years and were invited specifically because the Governor would confer the degrees on all of us, as is the usual practice for doctorates. This sudden announcement felt like a betrayal of that proud moment," a PhD scholar told reporters. Candidates also spoke about the long wait and the emotional significance of the ceremony.

Videos from the hall captured the agitation, with students insisting that the Chancellor should personally confer the degrees they had earned through years of research.

Following discussions between N Chandrasekar and Arlekar, the university reversed the decision. Later, Governor conferred degrees and doctorates to all students.

State song controversy

The ceremony was already under a cloud of controversy in the days leading up to the event due to a protocol dispute. Vice-Chancellor N. Chandrasekar had informed the press that, under instructions from Raj Bhavan, the event would begin with Vande Mataram, followed by the National Anthem, with the state song Tamil Thai Vazhthu relegated to third place.

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This sparked widespread condemnation from political parties, which called it an insult to Tamil pride and the legacy of Manonmaniam Sundaranar, the author of the state song after whom the university is named.

Higher Education Minister P. Viswanathan of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government boycotted the convocation in protest against the relegation of Tamil Thai Vazhthu. Local MLAs from Tirunelveli and Kadayanallur also stayed away. Tamil Nadu DGP Mahesh Aggarwal, who was scheduled to receive a doctoral degree, did not participate.

Responding to questions about the boycott and the song controversy, TVK Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar said priority would be given to Tamil Thai Vazhthu in Tamil Nadu. He described the Raj Bhavan's guidelines on the matter as unacceptable. His remarks came as the Higher Education Minister decided to boycott the event, underscoring the ruling party's position that the state song must take precedence at such ceremonies.

'Insult to the song's creator'

CPI(M) state secretary P. Shanmugam and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss condemned the Raj Bhavan directive as an insult to the state anthem and its author, demanding government intervention to restore Tamil Thai Vazhthu to the first position.

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Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore urged that the state song be sung first and called on the Union Home Minister to withdraw any related directives. Poet Vairamuthu and the teachers' association of Madurai Kamaraj University, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University and other universities (MUTA) also criticised the move as disrespectful to the Tamil language, culture and state autonomy. They argued that placing the state song third violated established practice and constitutional sensibilities, especially at a university named after its creator.