Nadoja award: Thinker Dr. G Ramakrishna refuses to accept honour from Governor Gehlot
Vijayanagar: Thinker Dr. G Ramakrishna, who was recently selected for the ‘Nadoja’ award by the Kannada University of Hampi, has called the selection an honour but has refused to receive the award from Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot.
Ramakrishna, however, clarified in a post on his Facebook page on Wednesday that his refusal to accept the award during the formal event did not mean that he was refusing the award itself.
He has stated that he held a long-term relationship with the University, starting with being professor there for two years three decades ago. He not only wrote a book published by the University, he also participated in several programmes there.
Speaking further about his relationship with the University, Ramakrishna said, addressing the Vice Chancellor, “If the syndicate there confers on me the degree of 'Nadoja', I will consider it an honour, there is no question of refusing. I have already written to you and informed you that I will accept the honor. Not going to the graduation ceremony is not a refusal of the degree. I have told everyone there and I think they all appreciated it. I humbly wish to convey this to all of them and all my friends.”
He added in his post, “I did not receive the award from the person from whose hand I was supposed to receive it and will not receive it in the future. There is another strong reason for not going and receiving the honor. I was not ready to receive the honor from the current Governor of the state, and I am still not.”
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
