Published Jan 12, 2026 | 9:08 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 12, 2026 | 9:14 PM
The Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu
Synopsis: A proposed two-day seminar on “Ramayana diplomacy” at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, has sparked controversy after students alleged that it was an RSS programme organised by two professors with links to the Sangh. Despite a ₹3 lakh grant for the event being sanctioned by a Kolkata-based university under the Union government, the MSU administration said it was unaware of any such programme being held.
A planned two-day seminar on the supposed diplomatic teachings found in the epic Ramayana at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, has triggered opposition from students.
They have accused the event of being an RSS programme, planned by two professors in the university who are closely associated with the Sangh and its student body, the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
The event, titled Ramayana diplomacy: Enhancing soft power of India, scheduled to be held on 5 and 6 February 2026, first came to light when a brochure for it began doing the rounds recently.
A copy of the brochure seen by South First states that it is being jointly organised by the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata, an autonomous institution functioning under the Union Ministry of Culture, and MSU.
The invitation lists Vice-Chancellor Dr N Chandrasekar as the Chief Patron of the event. It also mentions the Registrar, Deans, Syndicate members and several other professors of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University as coordinators of the seminar.
However, professors and others in the know told South First that the Vice-Chancellor is not aware of the brochure and any such programme at the university.
The Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies approved a financial grant of ₹3 lakh for the event, South First has learnt.
A copy of the brochure.
Dr V Balamurugan, Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at MSU, and Dr R Vasuhi, Assistant Professor in the Department of English, jointly applied for the grant.
“Permission has not yet been granted for this event. Specifically, the Vice-Chancellor himself is not aware of the brochure that has been released. Even for printing an invitation for any event, approval must be obtained up to the level of the Vice-Chancellor. That procedure has not been followed in this case,” a senior faculty member at MSU told South First on condition of anonymity.
He said that while the university was aware of the grant application submitted by the two professors, the administration was not aware of the programme schedule or the brochure that has been circulated.
The event is described as one that “draws upon India’s ancient epic, the Ramayana, to enhance the nation’s soft power and strengthen diplomatic and cultural relationships with other countries.”
“The epic’s enduring themes of duty (dharma), valour, righteousness, and ethical governance resonate deeply with several neighbouring nations. The values espoused in the Ramayana hold significant potential in fostering national integration within India by reinforcing shared ethical principles and cultural unity across its diverse states, thereby contributing to India’s emergence as a global power,” the promotional brochure states.
“This national seminar aims to create awareness of the teachings and philosophical insights of the Ramayana, particularly in southern states.”
It claims to seek the dissemination of the often overlooked and deeper dimensions of the epic Kamba Ramayana to faculty members and researchers participating in the seminar.
The programme will comprise eight sessions, including special addresses by eminent scholars and paper presentation sessions.
“All presented papers will be published in the seminar proceedings, and selected papers will be considered for publication in MAKAIAS publications.”
The seminar has invited research papers under ten themes related to the Ramayana, namely:
Students of the university have questioned why an academic event is being based on the Ramayana, a mythological and religious text.
A group of students led by Sylash Arulraj, an alumnus who is currently the Tirunelveli district secretary of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), met Syndicate member Professor Kala on Monday, 12 January, and urged her not to grant permission for the event.
Professor Kala reportedly told the students that she was unaware of the brochure being released and assured them that permission would not be granted for the seminar.
One of the coordinators of the event, Dr Balamurugan, told South First that they were waiting for the Vice-Chancellor’s permission and asserted that the event would be held.
“We are waiting for the Vice-Chancellor’s permission. There is no possibility of this event being cancelled,” he said.
Student organisations that have lodged complaints said that even if the university administration grants permission for the event, they would not allow it to be held.
Meanwhile, one of the senior faculty involved in organising the event denied accusations by students of being affiliated to the RSS and the ABVP and said the institution would explore the possibility of conducting the event while ensuring that it stays away from any religious or politically sensitive activities.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
