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Fifty academics deplore Kerala governor's remarks on Prof Gopinath Ravindran

Over fifty historians and prominent academics have issued a statement deploring the remarks made by the Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammad Khan, about the Vice Chancellor of Kannur University, Prof Gopinath Ravindran and expressed their support to him:

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We are shocked to learn from the media that the Governor of Kerala, Shri Arif Mohammad Khan, has described the Vice Chancellor of Kannur University, the eminent historian, Professor 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 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 the Kannur University with distinction.
The Governor has, on earlier occasions, questioned the re-appointment of Professor Ravindran as Vice Chancellor in press statements. The High Court, however, dismissed a writ petition that sought to remove Professor Ravindran from the post.
The false, defamatory and politically motivated campaign against the Vice Chancellor by the Governor and the Chancellor of the University is unacceptable. The Governor must stop this harassment of a distinguished historian and Vice Chancellor immediately.
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