Chicago – April 13, 2025
Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi’s recent remarks asking students to chant “Jai Shri Ram” during an event have sparked a controversy. The State Platform for Common School System-Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN), a group of education experts, has accused him of violating his oath of office and the country’s secular principles. They have urged President Droupadi Murmu to remove him from his position as governor.
Governor Ravi was invited as the chief guest to a government-aided college in Madurai on April 12, where he was handing out prizes to winners of a literary contest. During his speech, he asked the students to chant “Jai Shri Ram,” which is associated with a specific religion, three times.
SPCSS-TN believes this act goes against the Constitution of India, which declares the country as secular and emphasizes that education should be free from religious influence. The group also pointed out that the Constitution asks every citizen to respect its principles, including promoting scientific thinking and humanism. They argue that by asking the students to chant a religious phrase, Ravi failed to uphold these constitutional values and duties.
In light of this, SPCSS-TN has called for the President to take action and remove R. N. Ravi from his role as Governor of Tamil Nadu.
