Social Scientist P. Sanal Mohan Quits KCHR Executive Council

Academic P. Sanal Mohan has resigned from the executive council of the Kerala Council for Historical Research, becoming the fourth member to step down.

The Resignations

Prof. Mohan stepped down in protest against the appointment of Vinodkumar Kallolikkal as the council chairperson. He had earlier opposed this appointment as part of the search committee set up by the Higher Education department. Historians Janaki Nair, Lakshmi Subramanian, and Manu V. Devadevan also resigned earlier.

Official Response

Official sources defended the appointment and claimed the resignations were orchestrated to avoid an inquiry into alleged irregularities from the previous administration. They stated that the past leadership made irregular appointments on December 22, 2025, without a search committee. Higher Education Minister Roji M. John dismissed the opposition's claims as political vendetta and praised Dr. Kallolikkal's academic credentials.

Context

Academic bodies and research councils operate under specific government guidelines and search committee frameworks for leadership roles. Disputes over these appointments often bring to light broader debates regarding institutional governance and political influence in educational institutions.