Scholar ignores Tamil Nadu governor, walks past him at convocation
What's the story
At the 32nd convocation of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) in Tamil Nadu, Jean Joseph, a student and wife of DMK Nagercoil Deputy Secretary M Rajan, refused to accept her degree from Governor RN Ravi. Instead, she chose to receive it from Vice Chancellor Chandrasekar. After the ceremony, Joseph explained her decision, saying, "As the governor is working against Tamil Nadu and the Tamils, I didn't want to receive the degree from him."
Political discord
'Didn't want to receive the degree from him'
A video of the incident showing Governor Ravi awkwardly smiling and gesturing for Joseph to stand next to him has gone viral. "We thought she is the vice-chancellor's candidate and wanted to receive it from him. Only later did we realize she did it on purpose," a senior professor told NDTV. Joseph had earned her doctorate in micro finance.
Twitter Post
Watch the video here
PhD student refuses to receive her doctorate from the TN Governor #RNRavi at the convocation.
— Mugilan Chandrakumar (@Mugilan__C) August 13, 2025
Manonmaniam Sundaranar Uni PhD student Jean Joseph has refused to receive her Doctorate from the Governor stating that he is acting against the #Tamil language and Tamil people. pic.twitter.com/FNzSRBeB60
Legislative dispute
Tension between DMK, Governor Ravi
The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has been at loggerheads with Governor Ravi over legislative approvals. Between November 2020 and April 2023, the state legislature passed 13 bills, of which the governor withheld or returned 10 without any explanation. Even after the Assembly re-passed them without changes, he reserved them for presidential consideration—a move later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Education politicization
BJP's K Annamalai reacts
Reacting to Joseph's protest, BJP state vice president K Annamalai slammed what he called "deplorable dramas staged by DMK members to gain fame." He accused them of "using educational institutions for political purposes." Annamalai also asked Chief Minister MK Stalin to advise party members against bringing low-grade politics into schools and universities. He warned that if they continue such behavior, "Where will the Chief Minister Stalin hide his face?"