NIT Professor Who Praised Godse 'For Saving India' Appointed Dean, Sparks Protest From Congress

The appointment sparked outrage from Congress and Left organisations, who demanded her removal.

Dr A Shaija, a professor at NIT Calicut, who praised Godse "for saving India" was appointed dean sparking protests.

Source : X

A row has erupted at the National Institute of Technology, Calicut after a professor from the institution who praised Nathuram Godse for "saving India" was appointed the institute's dean. 

Dr A Shaija is currently a professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at NIT Calicut. Last year on Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary, she posted on Facebook saying: “Proud of Godse for saving India.” Her remark came in response to a post by an advocate that read, “Hindu Mahasabha activist Nathuram Godse, a hero of many in Bharat," reported The Indian Express. 

The professor later deleted the comment, but the screenshots were widely circulated. She was booked by Kozhikode City police under IPC section 153 (wantonly giving provocation, with intent to cause riot) based on complaints registered against her. 

The Congress opposed Shaija's appointment as dean of the institution saying it would launch an agitation at the institute demanding the withdrawal of the decision. Various Left and Congress organisations have also demanded that she be sacked from the institute. 

Tendering an explanation at the time, Shaija said her comment was "not to appreciate the killing of Gandhiji." 

"I never wanted to do so. I had read Godse’s book, Why I Killed Gandhi. Godse was also a freedom fighter. There is a lot of information and revelations in his book, which the common man does not know," she said. 

"Godse has enlightened us in his book. Against this backdrop, I commented on the advocate’s Facebook post. When I realised that people had started distorting my comment, I deleted it," she added. 

Congress's district committee president for Kozhikode, Praveen Kumar called for revocation of her appointment. He further said that the appointment shows "RSS agenda is being implemented at the institutes under the central government." 

"A professor who insulted Gandhiji is given a promotion. We will launch an agitation until her appointment is withdrawn,” he said.