University Staff Oppose Exclusion of Vedan’s Songs from Curriculum

Fast Summary:

• The Confederation of University Employees Organisations, Kerala, appealed too Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chancellor of Calicut University (CU), to stop Vice-Chancellor P. Raveendran from removing rapper Hirandas Murali (Vedan) and singer Gowry Lekshmi’s songs from the B.A. (Malayalam) course syllabus.
• Hari lal,general secretary of the organisation,alleged that the decision is influenced by complaints filed by individuals with ties to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
• Literary critic M.M. Basheer was reportedly tasked with reviewing these songs before recommending their removal.
• Mr. Lal criticized the undermining of Board of studies and other academic bodies in matters related to curricula design, calling it a threat to democratic processes established by law.
• He stressed that excluding local musical icons impacts creativity and suggested using such contributions for comparative studies in education.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

This case highlights a broader debate between preserving creative freedom in academia versus responding to socio-political influences on curriculum design. Allegations regarding RSS involvement add complexity but should not overshadow critical concerns about procedural fairness within university governance structures. The potential sidelining of academic councils raises notable dissent over adhering to legislated norms designed for collaborative syllabus development.

Ensuring an inclusive approach that values diverse art forms like rap music could enrich higher education while maintaining democratic integrity in policymaking processes across public universities-an issue with ramifications beyond the immediate controversy.

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