Shaija Andavan, a professor at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut in Kerala, has been appointed the dean of planning and development of the central institute despite being out on bail for a controversial social media comment glorifying Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin, Nathuram Godse.

Critics argue that seniority norms were bypassed in her selection.

Andavan, a senior faculty member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the NIT, posted a comment on Facebook on 30 January, 2024 – Martyr’s Day – saying “Proud of Godse for saving India.”

Multiple complaints were lodged against her in several police stations in the city by various student organisations, including the Students Federation of India (SFI), the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the Youth Congress, and the Muslim Students Federation (MSF).

Case against Andavan

Following the complaints, Kunnamangalam police charged Andavan under Section 153 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for provocation with intent to incite violence.

She was questioned at her residence and the police station, before she secured bail from the Kunnamangalam court on February 20 last year.

Though she deleted the comment following the kerfuffle it created, its screenshots started circulating on social media.

The NIT had also constituted a panel to investigate Andavan's comment. In an official statement on February 10, 2024, the institute assured appropriate action based on the panel’s findings.

Also read: Mahatma Gandhi Was the First Victim of Hindutva

Authorities of the institution made it clear that the institute does not endorse or support any comment that goes against the principles and values upheld by Mahatma Gandhi.

“To address the complaints related to the comment in question, the institute has constituted a committee to thoroughly investigate various aspects of the incident,” it said. 

“It will prepare a comprehensive report, and based on its findings, appropriate action will be taken by the higher authorities,” it added.

‘Enlightened’ by Godse

Initially, Andavan had stated that her comment was not inappropriate.

“My comment was not to appreciate the killing of Gandhiji. I never wanted to do so. I had read Godse’s book, Why I Killed Gandhi. Godse was also a freedom fighter,” she told reporters.

“His book has a lot of information and revelations that the average person does not know. Godse has enlightened us in his book. Against this backdrop, I commented on the advocate’s Facebook post. When I realised that [the] people started distorting my comment, I deleted it,” she added.

Also read: The Ram Rajya Being Imagined Is Certainly Not That of Gandhi’s

Andavan, a faculty member at NIT, Calicut for the past 25 years, said the furore over her post was connected to the recent unrest on the campus related to the suspension of a Dalit student.

She added that nobody from the institute had sought an explanation from her so far. “I am not a sympathiser of any political party. I am an academician.”

This article was originally published on South First. It has been lightly edited for style.

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