Malathi, a first-year student of MA History, was suspended on October 1 amid criticism of the Tamil Nadu government over a crackdown on activists across the state
A first-year postgraduate student of the Government Arts and Science College in Coimbatore has been suspended for organising the celebration of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh's birth anniversary on the campus on September 28.
Malathi, a first-year student of MA History, was suspended on October 1 amid criticism of the Tamil Nadu government over a crackdown on activists across the state. She was suspended for conducting the celebration despite the college principal having denied permission for the event.
On September 28, when she sought the permission to commemorate the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh at the college level, the principal, sources said, asked her to hold the function at the department-level after obtaining permission from the Head of the Department (HoD). With the HoD on leave, the in-charge of the department refused to give permission but the students went ahead with the college-level celebration in remembrance of the revolutionary leader.
"We did not protest but only celebrated the birth anniversary of the freedom fighter in the campus. I and a few others spoke about his role in the freedom movement and the whole function was completed within an hour. For this, I was suspended," Malathi said.
She said that she was first orally told about the decision of suspension and asked to go home. "I went to attend the classes on October 9 as I did not get a written suspension order. But the HoD asked me to leave. When I argued over the absence of a written order, he went to the Principal and got a copy of the order," she said, adding that her suspension was aimed at preventing the students from speaking out and to curtail democracy on the campus.
Malathi said that still, she could not understand why her suspension order was sent to the police station. "I don't know why they sent the copy to the police. The problem is between the administration and student. They should have called me and discussed this. But they gave my suspension letter directly to the police. For what reason, I don't know," she said.
College authorities said that they will hold an inquiry into the incident on October 22 and take a decision on Malathi's suspension order.
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