Wave of Demonstrations Targets Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Rajendra Arlekar
In recent months, Kerala's university campuses have become focal points for student-led protests, primarily organized by the Students' Federation of India (SFI). These demonstrations frequently coincide with the visits of Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Rajendra Arlekar, who also hold the positions of university Chancellors. The SFI's core grievance appears to center on allegations of the Governor's "bid to saffronise" state-run universities, a claim often linked to specific appointments and events.
The SFI has consistently targeted the Governor's appearances at various universities, including the University of Calicut and the University of Kerala, through organized marches, slogan shouting, and, in several instances, by breaching campus security. These actions have led to confrontations with police, detentions of activists, and the registration of cases against them for alleged vandalism and forcible entry.
Chronology of Disruption
Multiple incidents illustrate the recurring nature of these protests:
October 31, 2024: SFI activists protested Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's arrival at the University of Calicut for the foundation stone-laying of a Sanatana Dharma Peetam Chair.
December 17, 2024: Tensions flared at the University of Kerala when SFI activists demonstrated against Governor Khan's presence for a Sanskrit seminar. Some activists scaled gates to reach the venue, leading to police using water cannons. This event occurred amidst ongoing friction between the Governor and the state government regarding vice-chancellor appointments.
July 10, 2025: A march organized by the SFI towards Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram, protesting Governor Rajendra Arlekar's alleged "saffronisation" efforts, turned violent. Protesters specifically criticized a temporary Vice Chancellor of Kerala University as an "RSS stooge."
July 8, 2025: SFI members stormed the Kerala University headquarters, protesting against Governor Arlekar. This demonstration followed the appointment of a Vice Chancellor-in-Charge by the Governor and occurred during an international seminar. Reports indicate police detained some SFI members, and CPI(M) MLA MV Govindan reportedly supported the protest. Cases were later registered against SFI activists, including its state secretary, for damaging public property and forcibly entering the campus.
July 14, 2025: SFI activists defied a police ban on demonstrations within a 200-meter radius of the University of Calicut campus, protesting outside the administrative block and terming the Vice-Chancellor a "Sangh Parivar loyalist."
November 12, 2025: SFI intensified protests at Kerala University, this time reportedly linked to allegations of casteist remarks made by a Dean against a researcher.
Underlying Tensions
The protests appear to be symptomatic of a broader political and ideological struggle over the control and character of higher education institutions in Kerala. The SFI's repeated use of terms like "saffronisation" and accusations of RSS links in appointments suggest a perception that the Governor is attempting to impose a particular ideology on universities. This is often juxtaposed with criticisms of the state government and its affiliations.
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The Governor, in turn, has publicly expressed his commitment to improving academic standards and has challenged protesters. Incidents at the University of Calicut in December 2023 saw the Governor vowing to stay on campus for three days amidst heavy police presence, stating he would not bow to SFI or CPM "violence."
Recent events also include a hearing convened by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on exam clearance irregularities at the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit on March 25, 2026, involving university officials, which also occurred within the context of these ongoing campus disputes.
