Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe

Ex JNU professor’s lecture on women in Mahabharata cancelled by Chennai institute

Hindustan Times, Chennai | ByMC Rajan
Jan 05, 2020 01:19 AM IST

The development comes close on the heels of the SRM University postponing its plan to award an honourary doctorate to Sahitya Akademi awardee and Tamil poet Vairamuthu after defence minister Rajnath Singh pulled out from the varsity’s convocation ceremony.

A lecture on the portrayal of women in Mahabharata scheduled for Saturday evening in Chennai, which had invited the wrath of some social media groups, was cancelled by the organizers of the event.

The lecture organised by CP Ramaswami Aiyer Foundation was titled, “Reluctant Brides, Deviant Wives, Cunning Witches: Women in Tamil Mahabharatas”, and was to be delivered by Vijaya Ramaswami, a former professor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Ramaswami is a scholar of repute, who has authored books on South Indian history with a focus on women. She used to teach at JNU’s Centre for Historical Studies (CHS) and is currently Tagore Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla, where she is working on the subject of ‘women in Tamil folklore’.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The cancellation follows opposition to the lecture by some social media posts which urged people, especially women, to call up CPR Institute of Indological Research and register their protest against the professor and the topic of the lecture. The foundation says the event was cancelled due to ongoing construction work.

“Everybody is calling and I am flooded with calls to know about the cancellation. The campus is slushy and for the ongoing construction, we are not able to get sand. There is a crunch. I am not aware of any social media campaign. I am also not on social media,” CPR Foundation president Nandita Krishna told HT, and added that the lecture had been “postponed”.

CPR Foundation is a prestigious institute engaged in the promotion of heritage, ecology, art and culture besides education.

The development comes close on the heels of the SRM University postponing its plan to award an honourary doctorate to Sahitya Akademi awardee and Tamil poet Vairamuthu after defence minister Rajnath Singh pulled out from the varsity’s convocation ceremony following an outcry from the BJP and other Sangh Parivar organisations.

The saffron party and its associates had opposed Singh’s participation alleging Vairamuthu had disrespected Hindu gods and saints in the past. Vairamuthu’s feting was also opposed since he has been accused of sexual harassment by popular playback singer Chinmay Sripada and others.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
OPEN APP