Mallika Ghanti surrounded with controversies
Hampi Kannada University has its own place of pride in the history of Karnataka. Many renowned thinkers have enhanced the value of this institution. The role of this University in bolstering the cause of Kannada can never be ignored.
But in the recent times, the university is in news for reasons other than constructive ones pertaining to literature, language etc.
It is rather a sad thing that the VC of this University, renowned thinker Mallika Ghanti is in the centre of such storms that are exactly not positive to the image of the University.
If a teacher loses track, his students lose the path and gradually this will lead to deterioration of the society at a higher level.
At the same time, the impact of a deteriorating University on the state and language is simply immeasurable in terms of damage done to various aspects of the state. With this being the reason, we will have to take developments in the university with more seriousness than ever. The fact that a controversial guest being invited to the literary event organised by Hampi University caused a great furore in various circles of the state.
One cannot even imagine Hampi University without Prof M M Kalburgi. His contribution to Kannada literature and research is beyond mere comprehension. When such a person was killed, a senior journalist write a rather distasteful tribute to him.
The first allegation on Ghanti is that she invited such a journalist to Hampi University as guest. There are many right leaning writers, thinkers and researchers. They all have excellent rapport with Hampi University. They have also been invited as guests for various events. But no one ever criticised Ghanti for that.
The public wanted to know what was that pertinent reason for Ghanti to invite a person who write disgusting tributes to those thinkers and writers who were murdered. Many for and against arguments were also presented. After the university students protested against this, Ghanti went and cancelled the whole event.
Another equally inappropriate decision by Ghanti was quietly ignored on the same occasion. Hampi University has been giving Nadoja award in the name of Adikavi Pampa since a long time. This award was inspired by the “Desikottam award” that is given in Shanti Niketan established by Rabindranath Tagore.
Nadoja title has been conferred on many stalwarts such as Kuvempu, Nijalingappa, Gangubai Hangal, Kambar and others. This time Nadoja was conferred on an incomprehensible haste to literary organiser Manu Baligar. He may well be deserving of this title. But there are accusations that Mallika Ghanti has violated a few norms while nominating persons for this award.
Sometimes such allegations may deride the value of the award as well. And this may cause embarrassment to even those who received it. Hence Ghanti owes it to people that these allegations be answered to. According to Kannada Universities Act 1991, the president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat is the member of governing board of the University. In this case, it is Manu Baligar.
In the 25 year history of Kannada University, no senate or Syndicate member has been conferred with this award. So the credibility of this selection is under scrutiny now. According to retired lecturers of the University, there have been gross flouting of norms in selecting a candidate for this award.
Normally the practice is that the governor will set up a committee of three members consisting former VC of the University, another professor from any other university, and another member as indicated by the Syndicate members. But this time around, syndicate did not suggest any names for its part.
Another aspect is before placing the name of Manu Baligar for discussion and approval by Senate and Syndicate, Mallika Ghanti had announced the name before the media members directly.
One of the RTI activists suggests that she had not even opened the envelope that had the final name of Manu Baligar before making the announcement, as some syndicate members has informed the activist. If a member or any persons get benefited by the university the act is equivalent to committing grave errors on work. This is a punishable offence under 1998 anti corruption act sec 7.
All these allegations have caused serious damage to the reputation of Mallika Ghanti that she has been safeguarding since long. She has to come clean from all this. This is not just the question of Ghanti's reputation alone but also of the credibility of the University itself. This has to be remedied for.
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Iran Shocks World, Hits F-35
America's most advanced fighter jet, the F-35, was never hit in combat — not once, in its entire history. Countries spend over ₹900 crore to buy just one of these aircraft. The whole world believed this plane was untouchable. Then, on March 19, something happened over Iranian skies that shocked military experts across the globe.
Iran hit it. And nobody saw it coming.
America Was Too Confident — That Was the Problem
Before understanding how this happened, you need to understand what America believed going into this. The US had been bombing Iran since February 28. After roughly 20 days of heavy strikes, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Iran's air defences were completely destroyed — finished, flattened, gone.
US President Donald Trump even said proudly, "We can fly wherever we want, and no one is even firing at us."
Based on this confidence, America flew its prized F-35 deep into the heart of central Iran. That alone tells you how sure they were. You don't send your most expensive jet into enemy territory unless you believe there is zero danger.
But Iran, a country under heavy international sanctions, still had something left. And it used that something extremely well.
So How Did Iran Actually Hit a Stealth Jet?
Here is where it gets interesting for regular people to understand.
We have all heard the word "stealth" — it sounds like the plane is completely invisible. But India Today explained that stealth only means it is hard to detect by radar. Hard — not impossible. It does not mean the aircraft is totally invisible.
Think of it this way. Even if you cannot see someone in a dark room, you can still feel their body heat if they stand close enough. That is almost exactly what happened here.
The F-35's engines produce enormous heat. Iran's weapon likely used an infrared sensor — basically a heat-seeking system — to detect that heat, lock onto it, and follow the jet. No radar needed. The F-35's biggest advantage, its radar-invisibility, simply did not matter.
The weapon Iran likely used was the 358 missile — also called SA-67 — which is a loitering munition. Think of it as a slow, intelligent drone that flies around patiently waiting, scanning the sky for heat signals from aircraft engines. Once it finds one, it chases it down. Iran has used this exact weapon before against American MQ-9 Reaper drones — and since this war started, America has already lost more than 12 of those drones.
This Has Happened Before — In 1999
This is not the first time America's "invisible" aircraft was brought down by a smarter enemy.
In 1999, during NATO's bombing campaign over Serbia, the US flew its F-117 Nighthawk — which was then considered the world's most advanced stealth aircraft. Serbian forces shot it down using an old Soviet missile system from the 1960s. Not with new technology — with clever thinking. They briefly switched on their radar, caught the jet at the right moment when its stealth was less effective, and fired.
The lesson both then and now is the same — no aircraft is completely invincible. Smart tactics can beat expensive technology.
Why This Changes Everything in the Iran War
Here is the bigger picture that really matters.
America and Israel had told the world that Iran's air defences were basically dead. Based on that, they sent massive B-1 and B-2 bombers — aircraft that are normally used only when a country is 100% sure it controls the enemy's sky. That is a huge military risk to take.
But if an F-35 — the most advanced aircraft in the sky — can still be hit, then Iran's defences are clearly not dead. Some pieces are still very much alive and working.
This means the US and Israel may now be forced to completely rethink their war plan. Their jets may need to fly higher, use longer-range weapons, and spend far more time and money finding where Iran's remaining defence systems are hiding underground.
Around 15 countries use the F-35 today. Even India was offered this jet by Trump during PM Modi's White House visit — though India has not shown interest so far.
Geopolitical expert Adam summed it up simply — a heavily sanctioned country just tracked, chased, and hit the world's most expensive stealth jet. That is not a small thing.
Sometimes, one moment changes everything.
(Girish Linganna is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He is the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany.)
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or position of the publication, its editors, or its management. The publication is not responsible for the accuracy of any information, statements, or opinions presented in this piece.
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