Tamil Nadu Student Walks Past Guv RN Ravi, Takes Degree From Vice Chancellor At Convocation

Last Updated:August 13, 2025, 16:22 IST

The move was seen as a symbolic protest amid ongoing tensions between Governor Ravi and the DMK government.

Student takes degree from Vice Chancellor instead of Governor RN Ravi at convocation | Image: X

A student bypassed Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi and accepted her degree from the Vice Chancellor instead during the 32nd convocation of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) on Wednesday.

The student, identified as Jean Joseph, wife of DMK Nagercoil Deputy Secretary M Rajan, avoided the Governor and received her certificate from Vice Chancellor Chandrasekar, who stood beside him.

The move was seen as a symbolic protest amid ongoing tensions between Governor Ravi and the DMK government.

“As the Governor is working against Tamil Nadu and the Tamils, I didn’t want to receive the degree from him. Instead, I received my Ph.D degree from the Vice Chancellor," Jean from Nagercoil said after receiving her degree.

A video of the incident shows Governor Ravi smiling and gesturing for Joseph to stand next to him.

She instead walks past him, accepts her degree from the Vice Chancellor, and appears to say “thank you," to which the Governor responds with a polite nod.

The DMK government and Governor Ravi have been at odds over legislative approvals.

Between November 2020 and April 2023, the state legislature passed 13 bills, of which the Governor withheld or returned 10 without explanation.

Even after the Assembly passed them again without changes, he reserved them for presidential consideration — a move later deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Location :

Tamil Nadu, India, India

First Published:

August 13, 2025, 16:22 IST

News india Tamil Nadu Student Walks Past Guv RN Ravi, Takes Degree From Vice Chancellor At Convocation

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