PhD Student Rejects Degree from TN Governor RN Ravi

TN Governor RN Ravi: At Manonmaniam Sundaranar University’s 32nd convocation, a PhD student made a remarkable statement by declining to take her degree from Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi. Rather, the university’s vice-chancellor, N. Chandrasekhar, awarded the student, who was identified as Jean Joseph from Nagercoil, her doctorate.

The incident happened at the V.O.C. Auditorium on the university campus. Traditionally, the Governor, who also serves as the chancellor of the university, personally presents degrees to students before they step off the stage. However, Jean Joseph, who earned her degree in Micro Finance, made the unexpected choice to walk directly to the Vice-Chancellor instead of the Governor. During the ceremony, the Governor extended his hand at first, seemingly assuming an error, but Jean’s movement made her intention clear. The Governor then nodded, acknowledging her decision.

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Why did PhD Student didn’t Degree from TN Governor RN Ravi?
Jean Joseph later described her choice to the media in another video, saying that she felt the Governor “has done nothing for Tamil Nadu or the Tamil language.” She went on to say that students should be able to choose who they want to receive their degree from, since many other people, including the Chief Minister or the Education Minister, are better equipped to present degrees.

Take a look at the video:

#WATCH | Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu | PhD student from MDT Hindu College refuses to receive degree from Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi (13.08)

(Video Source: Manonmaniam Sundaranar University) pic.twitter.com/RXNEMJ1nvs

— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2025

“I looked him up on Google and found that he didn’t do anything significant,” she added. He had a lot of options as the governor of Tennessee, but he chose to do nothing. Since I support the Dravidian model, I felt it was essential that I receive it from someone who has accomplished something, and our VC Chandrasekhar has accomplished a great deal. Therefore, he believed he should receive it. Either the education minister or the CM could have provided it. I didn’t want to accept it from someone who hadn’t taken any action. That’s all. Not for personal reasons.