Madras University Cancels Controversial Lecture On ‘Spreading Christianity In India’ After Backlash

The University of Madras’ Department of Ancient History and Archaeology had scheduled the lecture with two topics: “How to Spread Christianity in India” and “Why Need This Margam”.

The lecture was set to be delivered by K Siva Kumar, Chief Engineer from Hyderabad, on March 14.

Source : Website

A planned lecture titled “How to Spread Christianity in India” at the University of Madras was cancelled following strong opposition from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Hindu organisations, and public outcry on social media. The event, which was part of the Sir S Subramania Ayyar Endowment Lecture series for 2024-2025, was set to be delivered by K Siva Kumar, Chief Engineer from Hyderabad, on March 14. Critics accused the university of promoting religious propaganda, prompting the administration to scrap the lecture.

Controversy Over Lecture Topics

The University of Madras’ Department of Ancient History and Archaeology had scheduled the lecture with two topics: “How to Spread Christianity in India” and “Why Need This Margam”. Once the announcement went viral on social media, it triggered sharp criticism from various quarters with many questioning how such topics were approved in a state-funded academic institution.

BJP state secretary SG Suryah was among the first to condemn the event, stating that a university should not be used for religious conversion-related lectures. ABVP, the student wing of the RSS, also opposed the event, calling it religious propaganda disguised as an academic lecture.

University Responds, Cancels Lecture

Amid mounting pressure, the University of Madras issued a formal statement cancelling the lecture. Registrar Prof S Elumalai confirmed that the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology had not obtained proper approval from the university before announcing the lecture.

“In view of this, we instructed the concerned individual to cancel the endowment lecture with immediate effect,” the Registrar stated in a communication to the Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan on March 7.

Earlier, J. Soundararajan, Associate Professor and Head in-charge of the department, had also communicated that the lecture was being cancelled “due to administrative reasons.”

ABVP Claims Credit For Halting Lecture

Following the cancellation, ABVP claimed victory, stating on social media platform ‘X’ that its intervention prevented religious bias from being promoted in an academic space. 

In a post on 'X', the ABVP said its action halted the religious lecture at the University of Madras. “The lecture's topics, including "How to spread Christianity in India," were flagged by ABVP as religious propaganda unfit for a State University. In response to ABVP's concerns, The University Administration cancelled the event. This demonstrates ABVP's commitment in preventing the promotion of biased ideologies within universities,” the ABVP claimed.

ABVP's Action halted the religious Lecture at the University of Madras. The lecture's topics, including "How to spread Christianity in India," were flagged by ABVP as religious propaganda unfit for a State University. In response to ABVP's concerns, The University Administration… pic.twitter.com/VM8jsSiMqD

— ABVP Tamilnadu - North (@ABVPNorthTN) March 8, 2025