A stickler for rules and ethics, Arif Mohammad Khan has thrown down the gauntlet on the issue of constitutional propriety in appointing V-Cs
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan threw a bombshell when he requested the Chief Minister to take over the privileges enjoyed by the Chancellor in appointing Vice-Chancellors. Khan, a known firm believer in constitutional propriety, must be in a real tough situation amongst those who ideologically do not believe in democracy and its principles. Fed up with persistent unscrupulous intrusion of the State Government in fulfilling his constitutional obligations, the Governor has written to the Chief Minister that he would not like to exercise the power of the Chancellor of State universities — a statutory provision — as he is being pressured to act against the stipulations contained in the relevant university Acts, and is expected to act against his conscience. Though seriously upset and disturbed, he has followed the Gandhian approach: Let the Chief Minister assume the Chancellor’s powers. Expected outcomes are many: No controversy, the CM has his say, and the Governor is spared of moral and mental pressure.
Arif has well-established credentials as a scholarly intellectual who did not succumb to the perks and perquisites associated with power. He is perceived as a politician who took real secular and democratic instance in the Shah Bano case. The young and old alike know that his is the sane voice that comprehends, and propagates, the essence of the universal unity of all human beings — World is but one family. He was the youngest Union Minister in Rajiv Gandhi’s Cabinet, and had forcefully defended the Supreme Court judgment ordering a monthly allowance to a divorced Muslim woman. Rajiv Gandhi, however, buckled under pressure and brought constitutional amendment, depriving the woman — and future Muslim women divorcees — of even that pittance of an allowance.
Arif took a principled stand, and quit the Cabinet. The entire nation was with him. Politics could never override his intellectual, scholarly and spiritual pursuits. With time, he has earned a respectful place in the world of scholars, academics and intellectuals. He hit the nail on its head when he stumped a biased and vitriolic journalist’s query: “What is the future of Muslims in India?” His answer: “Same as that of India.”
The pace of progress of any nation would depend on its cognitive capital far more than its financial assets. And it would depend on the quality of education imparted by the universities. As is generally known, the Vice-Chancellors are appointed through a well-defined process and procedure. Even in Corona times, this process was religiously followed in most States, except in Kerala and West Bengal. Interviews were held, in some cases in dual offline and online modes. This process has sanctity, and most CMs maintain it. The Governor of Kerala was expecting just this much. How could someone in his position ignore his responsibility? He has every right to expect his CM to help him discharge his constitutional obligations. It is also clear that being the constitutional head of the State, the Governor knows the compulsions of the CM, and is prepared to show all courtesy and consideration to him, but within the limits of propriety and ethics.
He agrees — with considerable stress on his conscience — and accommodates his CM’s wishes, agreeing to give a second term to his favourite Vice-Chancellor. He does so expecting that the Government shall ensure adherence to the prescribed process in future appointments. His expectations are belied within days when the Government submits a single name, asking the Chancellor to appoint him as the V-C of the Sanskrit University. Nobody who knows Arif and his illustrious contributions would ever believe pretensions by any person anywhere that he would ever attempt to violate the well-set systems of procedures and related ethical standards.
For over five decades, the nation has been appreciative of school education in Kerala, and the leadership it provided to other States in achieving higher literacy rates. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the higher education system in Kerala. It represents a unique entity that represents Indian ethos of unity in diversity; most importantly, respect for all religions and faiths. According to 2011 population figures there are 54.73 per cent Hindus, 26.56 per cent Muslims and 18.38 per cent Christians in Kerala. When Islam came to Kerala in its initial years, Christianity was already well established there. All these years, they have lived together, worked together and progressed together.
Kerala could offer a model for the nations undergoing serious demographic transformation: A transition from a single religion, language, culture and ethnicity to a mixed population with all the diversities. Who is not familiar with the cultural and spiritual contributions of Kerala? Oceans of knowledge have flown from Kerala. Where could it be better understood than in Kerala that the Kulapati enjoyed the highest place of reverence in Indian society and the system of knowledge dissemination and generation? He was the embodiments of knowledge, values and morals. And hence, kings and emperors felt privileged in receiving dust from his feet. We need Vice-Chancellors of that level and calibre. The Kerala Governor’s offer to quit his privileges in favour of his Chief Minister could become an eye-opener to the academic world, which must create a climate that the academic autonomy and transparency in academic matters is not impinged upon from any quarters. And that is the key to India’s progress.
(The author works in education, social cohesion and religious amity. The views expressed are personal.)