Thrissur : Kalamandalam Deemed University Chancellor Mallika Sarabhai has launched a scathing attack on the Kerala government and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), claiming that political overreach and a roster of “incompetent” employees are crippling the institution.

​In a candid interview with The New Indian Express, the renowned dancer stated that many officials at the Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed University are so unskilled that they “do not even know how to send a proper email.” Sarabhai’s statement adds significant weight to the growing concerns of education experts who argue that left-wing political organisations are destroying higher education institutions through excessive political meddling.

​Sarabhai, a celebrated classical dancer and a known critic of the Sangh Parivar, was appointed Chancellor in December 2022 amidst a major standoff between Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the state government over the autonomy of universities. The government had anticipated that her appointment would benefit the arts in Kerala, given her international stature. However, she is now strongly opposing what she terms the “unnecessary interference” of the government and Left service organisations in the university’s administration.

​”To promote Kalamandalam, we need to solve several internal issues,” Sarabhai said. “When Kalamandalam was elevated to a Deemed University, people who were clerks suddenly became officers. The reality is that apart from the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar, nobody knows how to send an email in English. Their politics is the main problem,” she asserted.

​The Chancellor expressed deep frustration over the low skill set of the employees. “How can you run an institution with people who just parrot ‘I don’t know’ to every question? On one side, financial hardship is choking us, and on the other, there is a group of totally incompetent employees. It is very difficult to move forward with them,” she lamented.

​While praising Vice-Chancellor Ananthakrishnan for his competence and experience at Hyderabad University, Sarabhai questioned, “How will this institution develop with a number of unskilled employees? We cannot take a single step forward without reforming the current system. Shouldn’t we at least appoint people who know how to open and close a computer? How can we run this university with people who do not work even 200 days a year? And we cannot dismiss such people. Our hands are completely tied,” she openly stated.

​She accused the administration of making appointments solely on the basis of political consideration. “They are stuffing the university with party people without any proficiency. We can’t even sack them if they are bad. Shouldn’t we at least appoint those with some basic competence? At least those who can handle accounts and operate computers should be appointed,” she demanded, adding that the institution can only function if the head of accounts understands government-university norms. Sarabhai made it clear that she would not tolerate the appointment of undeserving individuals based on party preference.

​On a positive note, she mentioned that one good development since her arrival was the enrolment of a Muslim girl student, underscoring the principle that art should not have communal barriers.

​She also acknowledged that a lack of funding is severely impacting the standards of teachers and students, with daily activities being stalled due to financial shortages. While aware of the constraints imposed by the Central government and the financial situation of the State, Sarabhai has suggested forming a collective of willing supporters to assist Kalamandalam.