In the eye of the storm over alleged caste discrimination in academia, Shankar Mohan on Saturday stepped down as director of the K.R. Narayanan Institute of Visual Science and Arts, Thekkumthala, in Kottayam.
Confirming the development, Mr. Mohan, maintained that his resignation had nothing to do with the allegations levelled against him. He reiterated his charge of a conspiracy behind the ongoing protests at the institute. “I am stepping down as my three-year tenure as director of the institute is now over. The resignation letter was submitted to the institute’s chairman much earlier,” he said. He also confirmed that copies of the same were delivered at the offices of the Chief Minister and the Higher Education Minister.
“I am the first director to complete a term of three years at the institute. On this occasion, I would urge the protesting students to apply a fair share of intelligence so that they do not fall for any traps,” he added.
Extended tenure
A verification of documents pertaining to his re-appointment, however, suggested that the government had indeed extended Mr. Mohan’s term till it found a new director. “In view of an order appointing Shankar Mohan as director of the K.R. Narayanan Institute of Visual Science and Arts for two years, Mr. Mohan had taken charge in the said institution on 28.11.2019. As his term of appointment ended on 27-11-2021, an order is being issued to extend Mr. Mohan’s tenure from 28-11-2021 till a new director is appointed’’, read the order, issued by the Higher Education department on November 29, 2021.
Attempts by mediapersons to elicit a response regarding the resignation from veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, chairman of the institute, who had firmly backed Mr. Mohan throughout the protests, yielded little results.
The protesters, meanwhile, stood firm on their charges against Mr. Mohan and were awaiting for a clarity on the reports.
Students of the State-run film school here have been protesting since December 5, 2022, demanding the resignation of Mr. Mohan over alleged caste discrimination and forcing a group of women workers into domestic labour.
The protesters also staged a demonstration last month at the venue of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in Thiruvananthapuram.
Two panels
Later, the State government appointed a three-member committee to inquire into the allegations, followed by another two-member committee, led by former Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar. Though the second committee submitted its report a week ago, the State government was yet to act on the same.
Soon after the committee submitted its findings to the Chief Minister, Mr. Mohan hinted that he was not too keen on continuing in the post in view of the continuing protests. At one point, he had also lashed out at the committee for preparing the final report without hearing his side.
COMMents
SHARE