‘No need for Vedan and Gowry Lekshmi’s song'; Recommendation to remove it from Calicut University syllabus

Rapper Vedan and Gowry Lekshmi’s songs may not be part of the third semester syllabus of the B.A. Malayalam course of the University of Calicut, as previously announced.

MM Basheer, former HoD of the Malayalam department, has submitted a report to the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the varsity opposing the inclusion.

The recommendation has been forwarded citing the reason that rap cannot be regarded as popular music. Basheer’s report further stated that rap lyrics do not have conceptual cohesiveness.

AK Anuraj, Syndicate member and BJP representative, had previously complained to Governor Rajendra Arlekar regarding the inclusion of Vedan’s ‘Bhoomi Njan Vaazhunna idam’ in the university’s syllabus.

Gowry Lekshmi’s ‘Ajitha Hare’ was also touted to be included in the syllabus, to be studied in comparison with Kathakali music.

The report claimed that students enrolling in the BA Malayalam course would not have a grasp of the basic ideas regarding such music, making such comparative study difficult.

The complaint against the inclusion of Vedan’s song stated that teaching it would spread the wrong message among students, and that it should be replaced with another meaningful track.

On the Chancellor’s order, VC P Raveendran had initiated an inquiry into the matter. MM Basheer was placed in charge of the investigation.

It was the Malayalam department’s board of studies which recommended the inclusion of the song in the syllabus.

The rap song was to be taught in comparative analysis alongside Michael Jackson’s ‘They Don’t Care About Us’.