NEW DELHI: The appointment of Shaija Andavan, a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the National Institute of Technology – Calicut (NIT-C), as Dean (Planning and Development) has sparked controversy among political parties.
Andavan was embroiled in controversy in 2024 over a social media comment praising Nathuram Godse, Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin.
She will assume her new role on April 7, replacing Priya Chandran, a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, upon the completion of Chandran’s term.
Congress leaders, including K.C. Venugopal and Pawan Khera, have criticized Andavan’s appointment.
K.C. Venugopal, Lok Sabha MP from Alappuzha, described the decision as an endorsement of anti-Gandhi views and an attempt to mainstream hate-filled agendas in public discourse.
“Time and again, the BJP shows its true colours. This decision is a clear endorsement of her anti-Gandhi views, and it is their way of promoting Godse and mainstreaming his hate-filled agenda in our public discourse.”
Time and time again, the BJP shows its true colours. This decision is a clear endorsement of her anti-Gandhi views, and it is their way of promoting Godse and mainstreaming his hate-filled agenda in our public discourse.
Such people who hold appreciation for the killers of… pic.twitter.com/mp08S2Z5aR
— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) February 27, 2025
He called for the reversal of the appointment, stating, “Such people who hold appreciation for the killers of Mahatma Gandhi deserve no place in public life, let alone be promoted to positions of responsibility in national institutes. This decision must be reversed.”
Pawan Khera, Chairman of the Media & Publicity Department of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) criteria for top postings.
“Abuse Gandhi, Get Rewarded: The BJP’s New Qualification Criteria for Top Postings?” he asked.
“The appointment of Shaija Andavan, who openly praised Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin, Nathuram Godse, as the Dean of Planning and Development at NIT-Calicut is yet another example of the BJP government’s systematic promotion of those who insult India’s national icons.”
Abuse Gandhi, Get Rewarded: The BJP's New Qualification Criteria for Top Postings?
The appointment of Shaija Andavan, who openly praised Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse, as the Dean of Planning and Development at NIT-Calicut is yet another example of the BJP… pic.twitter.com/azEw8FPQQY
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) February 26, 2025
He highlighted the contradiction between Prime Minister Modi’s homage to Gandhi abroad and the elevation of those who celebrate forces opposing Gandhi’s legacy.
“While PM Modi pays lip service to Mahatma Gandhi on foreign trips, his government continues to elevate individuals who openly celebrate the very forces that sought to destroy Gandhi’s legacy. Is this the ‘New India’ the BJP envisions, where those who spew venom against Gandhi and India’s freedom struggle are rewarded with prestigious positions?”
The District Congress Committee has also demanded that the NIT-C director revoke Andavan’s appointment. The party has announced plans for protests in the coming days.
In response to the allegations, Andavan stated, “I have been chairing a multidisciplinary centre in NIT-C for the last four years, overseeing 40 faculty members. My position was equivalent to that of a head of department.”
She also highlighted her 38 years of teaching experience, positioning herself as one of the senior-most faculty members at the institute.
In 2024, she commented on X (formerly Twitter), “Proud of Godse for saving India,” beneath a post from a profile named ‘Adv Krishna Raj’ that featured an image of Godse with a caption calling him “a hero to many people of Bharat.”
Andavan deleted the comment after facing public backlash, stating that it had been misinterpreted.
A complaint filed by a member of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) led to legal action against Andavan. The Kunnamangalam police booked her under IPC Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot), and she was interrogated twice before securing bail from the Kunnamangalam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court.
