Students should solve their issues with V-Cs through talks, says Keralam Governor

DLitt degree presented to filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad and industrialist P.K. Ahammed. DSc degree presented to scientist E.D. Jemmis

Updated - October 06, 2026 11:11 pm IST - Kozhikode

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar with filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad, industrialist P.K. Ahammed, and scientist E.D. Jemmis at the honorary doctorate presentation ceremony at the University of Calicut at Tenhipalam on October 6. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Keralam Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who is also the Chancellor of State universities, has asked students’ organisations to “solve their issues” with the Vice-Chancellors (V-Cs) of universities through talks.

He was addressing an honorary doctorate presentation ceremony on the University of Calicut campus at Tenhipalam in Malappuram district on Tuesday (October 6). Filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad and industrialist P.K. Ahammed were presented with a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) degree, and scientist E.D. Jemmis was given a Doctor of Science (DSc) degree.

A banner put up on the Calicut University campus at Tenhipalam in Malappuram against the singing of the National Song Vande Mataram in full at the honorary doctorate presentation event on October 6. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Mr. Arlekar said very few people seemed to be keen on staging agitations on the streets. “I don’t know the purpose of coming to the streets. They can solve all their issues by talking to the V-C or even to me, the Chancellor. My doors are open for any type of discussion. You can come, sit, and discuss and find a solution to every problem. But street agitation is not the solution. Going to the streets and disturbing the lives of common people and disrupting classes are not the answer to anything,” he said.

However, Mr. Arlekar claimed that some people seemed to be keen on disturbing the lives of others. He said such people also want to disrupt the functioning of universities. “Very few people do this. Our young generation should ignore all such diversions and concentrate on getting knowledge. After a certain age, you will not be able to get knowledge. We need to learn how to get it at the right time,” he said. Mr. Arlekar also urged students to learn from the lives of Mr. Anthikad, Mr. Ahammed, and Mr. Jemmis.

Meanwhile, activists of the Students’ Federation of India staged a protest outside the venue for singing the National Song, Vande Mataram, in full at the event. They also placed a banner on the campus to express their disagreement.

Published - October 06, 2026 07:54 pm IST

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