OVER 50 historians and prominent academics issued a statement on August 22, deploring the baseless remarks made by the governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammad Khan about the vice chancellor of Kannur University,  Gopinath Ravindran and expressed their support for him.

The historians said “We are shocked to learn from the media that the governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammad Khan, has described the vice chancellor of Kannur University, the eminent historian, Gopinath Ravindran as a “criminal.”

Professor Gopinath Ravindran is one of India’s leading historians, with a particular specialisation in the agrarian history of Kerala and historical demography. He was head of the department of history and culture at the Jamia Millia Islamia Central University, New Delhi, and has been a member secretary of the Indian Council of Historical Research.  He has also been director  Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution at the Jamia Millia Islamia.

As Vice Chancellor, Professor Gopinath Ravindran has led Kannur University with distinction.

The statement further stated: “The false, defamatory and politically motivated campaign against the VC is unacceptable. The governor must stop this harassment of a distinguished historian and vice-chancellor immediately.

Some of the signatories to the statement include Prabhu Prasad Mohapatra, Romila Thapar, Kesavan Veluthat, K N Pannikar, Prabhat Patnaik and others.