Over the years, Rajan’s legacy has been honored in various forms, including events like the “Rajan Memorial Light Music Solo” during the Ragam cultural fest at NIT Calicut. The official website of NIT Calicut acknowledges Ragam as a tribute to Rajan.
Published Jan 22, 2025 | 8:49 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 23, 2025 | 6:54 AM
The official website of NIT Calicut acknowledges Ragam as a tribute to Rajan.(img-aanavandi)
Sparking memories of censorship on free speech clamped during the internal Emergency of 1975-’77, authorities of the National Institute of Technology in Kerala’s Kozhikode have forced the students to take down a video depicting one of its alumni, P Rajan.
Rajan was a victim of police brutality and an authoritarian state’s highhandedness, which deprived his parents of a chance to see his body one last time and give him a decent funeral.
Though initially tight-lipped and in denial, the police later admitted in the High Court of Kerala that Rajan had died in custody. The confession came in response to a habeas corpus petition Rajan’s father TV Eachara Warrier had filed, as part of his uncompromising battle to know about his son.
The police arrested Rajan, a final-year student of the Regional Engineering College in Calicut — now, NIT, Calicut — on 1 March 1976, and reportedly subjected him to third-degree torture. His body was disposed of without informing his relatives.
Warrier chronicled his ordeal in his memoir, Oru Achchante Ormakkurippukal (Memories of a Father), which won the Kerala State Award in 2004
The incident — better known as the ‘Rajan case’ in Kerala — has been highlighted in the popular culture, including a reference to it in the 2021 movie, Jai Bhim.
Ragam, the annual cultural fest of NIT Calicut, is one of the biggest in India bringing together talents from all over the world to one platform.
According to the NIT-C website, “The infamous, controversial Rajan case that shocked Kerala in the seventies is widely known to have led to the inception of Ragam… The All-Kerala Rajan Memorial Music Festival was held in 1977 to commemorate his life, but this venture was discontinued within a few years. The fest later resurfaced as Ragam in 1987 in remembrance of Rajan. The 2006 edition began with a solemn message delivered by T.V. Eswara Warrier, father of the late Rajan”.
However, a video featuring the incident, which shocked the collective conscience of Kerala, had to be taken down following the college authorities’ objection.
The students agreed to pull it down since they did not want Ragam to be disrupted or cancelled. The event was not held in 2024.
The promotional video featuring a portrayal of Rajan had a voiceover, “He was a legend. Art was his weapon, a voice raised for the oppressed.” The removal of the video has sparked outrage among students and alumni.
Despite repeated requests from students to reinstate the video, the administration remained silent. Placards at the campus gate silently protest the decision, reflecting frustration over the perceived erasure of Rajan’s legacy.
Thajudeen, the SFI’s Kozhikode District Secretary, commented on the restrictive political environment at NIT-C.
“In a campus like NIT, open protests are not feasible due to the management’s political stance, and there is no active SFI unit. However, students are frustrated with such policies and the autocratic nature of the administration. If necessary, SFI will intervene in the matter.”
Sidharth Manohar, an NIT-C alumnus, criticised the administration’s handling of the issue on social media.
He pointed out the irony of the Cultural Affairs Secretary’s statement questioning Rajan’s victimhood, noting that Rajan himself held the same position when he was taken into custody.
“The then Principal’s testimony was a turning point in the case against the state,” Sidharth emphasised, underscoring the historical significance of Rajan’s story.
The convener of Ragam 2018, Vishnu Vijayan, also voiced his discontent. “This is the first time such restrictions have been imposed on Ragam. When I was in charge, we organised the event with full posters and even statues of Rajan, celebrating his legacy. Now, the management seems to be exercising more control over everything.”
NIT-C students seemed scared to speak to the media. However, a students’ leader messaged journalists, saying the complete picture has not been shared anywhere.
“I wish to keep this message entirely anonymous, as my intention is not to attach a name but to share my thoughts sincerely,” the message began.
“While only fragments of information might be circulating, the full picture hasn’t been conveyed anywhere. I want to emphasise that Ragam does not intend to lose or remove its essence from any platform or initiative,” he said.
“I believe that actions carry far greater weight than words, and our commitment will be evident through the steps we take. I trust that many meaningful events will soon showcase the dynamic spirit of Ragam, underscoring that the essence we stand for remains unwavering, contrary to what some media narratives suggest,” he added without elaborating on the “narrative”.
Alumni and observers linked the incident to a broader trend of suppressing student protests and political awareness on campuses across India.
“What the state and police did to Rajan is not a private NIT-C lore. It is well-documented in court proceedings,” Sidharth added, highlighting the enduring relevance of Rajan’s story as a symbol of resistance.
The current administration’s approach has been criticised as an attempt to sanitise the campus of political history and dissent.
This aligns with a nationwide crackdown on student activism, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic spaces in educational institutions.
The controversy surrounding the Ragam promo video has reignited debates about the role of student movements and the preservation of historical memory.
Students and alumni continue to demand an apology from the administration and the reinstatement of the video as a tribute to Rajan’s struggle and sacrifice.
As NIT-C prepares for Ragam 2025, the question remains, Will the administration acknowledge the significance of Rajan’s legacy, or will it succumb to political pressures that threaten to erase his memory?
The institute’s website answers the question: “The logo of Ragam, the ‘Ragam Flame’, is meant to represent an eternal flame, symbolizing energy, a burning passion, and enthusiasm as well the idea of rebirth, akin to that of a phoenix rising from the ashes, ushering in messages of hope and rebuilding.”
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
