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An expert committee has recommended removing songs by rapper Vedan, alias Hirandas Murali, from the BA Malayalam syllabus at the University of Calicut. The panel was formed by Vice-Chancellor (VC) P Raveendran after complaints about the inclusion of Vedan’s ‘Bhoomi Njan Vazhunnidam’ in the third-semester curriculum.
The committee, chaired by MM Basheer, former head of the university’s Malayalam department, said comparing Vedan’s song with Michael Jackson’s ‘They Don’t Care About Us’ would be too demanding for students, and that the song should be removed and replaced with a more suitable topic. In the committee’s report, it also recommended dropping Gowry Lekshmi’s ‘Ajita Hare’, arguing that students without musical training would struggle to compare Kathakali with classical music.
Both songs were part of the ‘Introduction to Comparative Literature’ course under the Puthu Pravanathakal (New Trends) module. The decision to include Vedan’s work from the next academic year was taken during a board meeting on May 31.
The committee was formed following complaints by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-affiliated syndicate member A K Anuraj, the Save University Forum, Senate member A V Hareesh, and two other individuals, Abhishek Pallikara and Rajeev Kumar T V.
Differing opinions
In his complaint to the Governor, who serves as the Chancellor of the university, Anuraj claimed the song’s inclusion would negatively influence students.
“Vedan has been involved in multiple cases, including drug-related ones, and has said himself he shouldn’t be seen as a role model,” Anuraj told TNM. He also flagged the use of YouTube links in the lesson, saying this could expose students to more “problematic content.”
“The lyrics of the song in question contain several problematic elements, which I have not even included in my complaint. For instance, it refers to Buddha as a martyr — a clear historical blunder,” he added.
P P Sumod, MLA from Tarur and a university syndicate member, said the backlash was politically motivated. “The move also exposes the lingering casteism in society. The right-wing supporters cannot tolerate a Dalit artist gaining such widespread popularity.” he added.
General Education Minister V Sivankutty, in a Facebook post, said some people's fear of Vedan and Gowry is ingrained “in their DNA.”
Writer and Sanskrit scholar TS Syamkumar told TNM the move was part of a larger push to turn universities into agraharams (Brahmin settlements). “Universities are behaving like patriarchs of old Nair households. What they teach in universities, with verses from certain old works, are nothing but casteist brahmanical values. They are imposing the purist logic that children should learn only the works of those from the dominant caste,” he said. He added that the politics in Vedan's songs stand in stark contrast with those ideas.
Basheer, however, refuted the allegation that the decision was politically motivated. He said that his suggestions are devoid of political influence, and that he likes to listen to Vedan’s songs.
Vedan had earlier told the media that he had no objection to the song’s inclusion or removal, and that he would continue his work regardless.
The committee’s report will be forwarded to the Board of Studies, which will decide the future course of action.