Confusion prevails inside the convocation ceremony hall at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli on Tuesday (July 28, 2026).
| Photo Credit: A. Shaikmohideen
The 33rd convocation of Manonmaniam Sundarnar University (MSU) held here on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) was briefly marred by a protest by students who opposed the announcement that the Governor would present degree certificates only to medallists.The Master of the Ceremony announced around 10 a.m. — 30 minutes before the start of the function — in the hall packed with 113 medallists and 758 Ph.D. scholars that Governor and Chancellor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar would give the degree certificates only to the medallists while the others would receive them from the Chief Guest, triggering vehement objections from the students.The event organisers tried to pacify them. It was announced that the Ph.D. scholars would receive their degrees from Chief Guest B. Madhusoodhana Kurup, founding Vice-Chancellor of Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, as the Governor, who was unwell, could not stand for long.While some Ph.D. scholars started shouting, a few were in tears, which prompted reporters of satellite channels to rush towards them to record their complaints. When the event organisers asked the reporters to return to their seats, the journalists got involved in heated arguments with them.Meanwhile, MSU V-C N. Chandrasekar appealed to the reporters to return to their seats. However, the print and the electronic media journalists were recording the students’ grievance.“I am working in Dubai. After spending ₹1.50 lakh, I have reached here only to receive my Ph.D. degree in History from the Governor. But, it is disappointing that the MSU officials change the tradition...,” said Bibimol of Kerala.Since similar grievances were getting recorded across the hall, the V-C continued his persuasion to bring back normalcy. The students also instantly trashed similar appeal from Sajjan Singh R. Chavan, Secretary to Governor.After 10.30 a.m., Mr. Chandrasekar went out to meet the Governor to explain to him the students’ opposition. With noisy scenes continuing even after 10.40 a.m., the V-C returned to say the Governor would present the degrees to every candidate. Only then the candidates returned to their seats.And, the Governor, sporting a broad smile, gave the degree certificates to all 800-odd candidates.In his address, Mr. Arlekar apologised for the confusion. “After prolonged hard work, you were waiting for this moment of getting the degree from the Governor and Chancellor. I’ll never ignore you and your fair aspirations,” he said.As the national song, ‘Vademataram’, was played first ahead of the National Anthem and the ‘Thamizh Thai Vazhthu’, it triggered resentment from the students and their parents. Since a few splinter outfits had threatened to lay siege to the MSU in protest against this new protocol, a large number of police personnel had been deployed in the area. Published - July 28, 2026 08:14 pm IST
