Sivankutty Criticizes Proposal to Drop Rapper Vedan, Gowry Lekshmi’s Songs from University Syllabus

Quick Summary

• General Education Minister V. Sivankutty condemned Calicut University’s move to remove songs by rapper Vedan (hirandas Murali) and musician Gowry Lekshmy from the undergraduate curriculum,calling it part of the Sangh Parivar’s alleged agenda to saffronise higher education.
• The decision followed complaints from members of the university’s governing body appointed by the Chancellor.
• Minister Sivankutty defended rap music’s global significance and criticized attempts to review a syllabus already approved by academic committees.
• The removed songs are part of a module called Puthu Pravanathakal (New Trends) for fourth-semester students in Malayalam Language and Literature. It included:

– Bhoomi Njan Vaazhunna Idam, a rap song addressing issues such as global crises, Palestine, Syria war, and Asifa’s rape case in Kathua (Jammu & Kashmir).
– Comparative analysis of Kathakali Padam (Ajita Hare… Madhava) with its modern rendition by Gowry Lekshmi.

• BJP-aligned Syndicate member A.K. Anuraj advocated removal due to concerns about poor language quality in Vedan’s works.

Indian Opinion Analysis

the controversy highlights friction between ideological perspectives on academic curricula in India. The inclusion of politically charged songs reflects an effort to contextualize contemporary art forms within traditional literature studies while addressing pressing social issues.However, objections regarding language quality or appropriateness raise valid concerns about curriculum standards.

For India’s diverse higher education system,balancing artistic representation with scholarly rigor remains pivotal-not only for fostering critical thought but also for accommodating wider cultural narratives without overt politicization from any side. Decisions on revisions should emphasize consensus-driven processes led by academic professionals rather than external influence or partisan alignments.

Read more: