Dr A Shaija, a professor at the National Institute of Technology Calicut (NIT), who is out on bail after being arrested for glorifying Nathuram Godse on Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary, has been appointed as the dean of planning and development, drawing strong opposition from the Congress party and student organisations, who warned of a series of protests if her appointment was not withdrawn.
Dr Shaija, who teaches in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, had faced criticism in 2024 after making a social media comment praising Nathuram Godse on Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary, leading to a police case against her under IPC Section 153 for provocation with intent to incite violence.
The Congress has announced an agitation demanding the withdrawal of her appointment, arguing that her promotion reflects an ideological push by the central government in academic institutions.
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), have also filed multiple complaints against her at different police stations in Kozhikode, alleging that her comment was an attempt to glorify Gandhi’s assassin.
Dr Shaija, who had initially defended her statement by referencing Godse’s book and asserting that her comment was misinterpreted, deleted her post following the backlash. However, screenshots of her statement had already been widely circulated on social media.
In response to the public outrage, the NIT administration had set up a panel to investigate the matter and had assured that appropriate action would be taken based on its findings. The institution had also issued a statement affirming that it does not support any remarks that contradict the principles upheld by Mahatma Gandhi.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Dr Shaija was appointed to her new position, raising concerns about whether seniority norms were bypassed in the selection process. Critics argue that her elevation to a key administrative role undermines the credibility of academic institutions and reflects a broader trend of ideological influence in appointments under the central government.
Her past legal troubles, including securing bail from a local court following police questioning, have further intensified opposition to her new role at NIT Calicut.
The furore over her appointment comes at a time when the campus has been witnessing unrest related to the suspension of a Dalit student, which some believe has added to the tensions surrounding Dr Shaija’s controversial past remarks.