Vedan and Gowry Lekshmi’s music to remain for BA students

Kozhikode: The University of Calicut Board of Studies has decided to retain songs by rapper-lyricist Hirandas Murali (Vedan) and singer-composer Gowry Lekshmi in the BA third-semester Malayalam syllabus.

The Malayalam Board of Studies, chaired by Dr M.S. Ajith, recently submitted a report to the University Registrar stating that the songs “should not be omitted” and must continue to be taught.

The decision follows earlier controversy when, after student proteststhe university appointed Dr M.M. Basheer, former head of the Malayalam department, to review the songs’ inclusion. Basheer recommended their exclusion, but the Board of Studies rejected his report.

Dr Ajith told PTI that Basheer’s report had “no legal validity.” “We returned the report to the Registrar on Monday. We have decided to continue these songs in the syllabus,” he said.

Regarding Vedan’s rap number, ‘Bhoomi Njan Vaazhunna Idam’ (The Earth Where I Live), Ajith noted that it should not be evaluated solely on literary merit. “The importance lies in the message conveyed, not in judging it as a poem,” he said.

The Board also dismissed Basheer’s claim that Gowry Lekshmi’s song ‘Kathakali’ lacked devotional content, clarifying that the selections were chosen for their message rather than religious or devotional significance.

Both songs form part of the comparative literature module for third-semester Malayalam degree students.

Earlier, General Education Minister of Kerala V Sivankutty had criticised the proposal to remove the songs.

The decision to retain Vedan’s work has also attracted criticism, as the rapper faced multiple sexual misconduct cases earlier this year.

PTI inputs

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