PhD graduate refuses degree from Tamil Nadu governor — here’s why

Dubai: A PhD graduate made headlines at the 32nd convocation of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli on Wednesday by publicly snubbing Tamil Nadu Governor and University Chancellor R.N. Ravi, refusing to receive her degree from him and instead accepting it from Vice-Chancellor N. Chandrasekar — a bold move that has ignited political debate across the state.

The ceremony, attended by over 650 graduates, was proceeding as scheduled, with each recipient greeting the Governor before collecting their degree.

However, when Joseph’s turn came, she walked past Governor Ravi without acknowledgment and directly approached the Vice-Chancellor to accept her degree, leaving attendees and officials visibly surprised, reports in the Indian media said.

Governor Ravi maintained his composure as the graduate bypassed him.

Speaking to reporters after the convocation, Joseph said: “Governor R.N. Ravi has been acting against the interests of Tamil Nadu and Tamils. I did not want to receive my degree from him.”

The statement quickly went viral, intensifying the ongoing political tensions between the Tamil Nadu government and the Governor over various issues.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Joseph, 38, elaborated:

“I did not want to get my degree from a person who does not respect either Tamil Nadu or Tamil culture. The Governor does not respect Tamil people, and hence I decided not to get my degree from him.”

Own conviction

Joseph is also the spouse of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader M. Rajan, Deputy Secretary of the party’s Nagercoil town unit. She stressed, however, that her decision was independent: “My decision not to accept the degree from the Governor came from my own conviction. My husband’s politics had nothing to do with it.”

She added that she had been contemplating her action for two days prior to the ceremony:

“I received the convocation invitation two days ago, and since then, I have been thinking about it. I also wondered whether my action could cause trouble for other candidates. I decided to go for it at the last moment because I just couldn’t get myself to accept the degree from him.”

Broader standoff

Political observers have linked her action to the broader standoff between the ruling DMK and the Governor, which has involved repeated clashes over policy matters, university appointments, and public statements.

The incident has sparked sharp debate on social media. Supporters hailed it as a bold act of dissent against what they see as the Governor’s overreach, while critics argued a convocation was an inappropriate venue for political protest.

University authorities have not issued an official statement, and the Governor’s office declined to comment. This is not the first time Governor Ravi has faced visible protests; in recent months, his presence at events in Tamil Nadu has been met with boycotts and symbolic demonstrations by students and political groups aligned with the state government.

As videos of the moment circulate online, the episode underscores how political tensions in Tamil Nadu are increasingly spilling over into academic and ceremonial spaces.