In a rare protest during a convocation ceremony, PhD graduate Jean Joseph from Kottar declined to receive her degree from Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University.
The event took place at the V.O.C. Auditorium on the university campus, where the Governor, who also serves as the university chancellor, personally handed degrees to graduates. Out of 37,376 students from 104 affiliated colleges and the university, 759 attended in person, including 650 PhD graduates.
When her turn came, Jean Joseph bypassed Governor RN Ravi and instead accepted her PhD in Human Resource Management from Vice-Chancellor Chandrasekar. Speaking to reporters, she explained her choice:
“The Governor has done nothing for Tamil Nadu or the Tamil language. Many others, like the Chief Minister or Education Minister, are more deserving to hand out degrees. Students should have the choice to decide from whom they receive their degree.”
Jean Joseph said her peers supported her decision, and she did not want her degree from someone she felt did not respect the state’s land, language, or identity.
Jean Joseph completed her B.Com at Hindu College, Nagercoil, then earned an MCA at Mepco College, Sivakasi, before pursuing her PhD at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. Her protest comes amid ongoing tensions between Governor RN Ravi and Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK, with the Governor often facing criticism for controversial remarks.
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