Elections may end with results, but governance begins with difficult questions. This open letter to the new Chief Minister of Kerala reflects on issues that deserve urgent attention beyond political celebrations—higher education, English language learning, legal literacy, women’s empowerment, and the future of public institutions in the state. Democracies grow stronger not when criticism is silenced, but when uncomfortable conversations are taken seriously.
Dear Sir,
First of all, let me extend my sincere wishes to you as you assume the responsibility of leading the state at a politically significant moment in Kerala’s history. Democratic transitions, especially in coalition-based systems, are always accompanied by uncertainties, negotiations, and moments of public anxiety. The recent developments surrounding the formation of the new government were therefore not entirely unexpected. Democracies, after all, are rarely free from turbulence.
But once the political spectacle settles, governance must begin in earnest.
Beyond electoral victories, ideological rivalries, and partisan celebrations, there remains a state that looks towards its government with expectations, anxieties, and aspirations. At a time when neoliberal forces continue to deepen inequalities across sectors, Kerala cannot afford institutional instability or prolonged political distractions. The strength of a welfare-oriented society lies in its ability to move beyond electoral arithmetic and engage with the everyday realities of its people.
It is from that perspective that I write this letter - not as a political commentator, but as someone who has spent years within the higher education sector of Kerala and who continues to believe in the transformative potential of public institutions.
The government that has stepped down undoubtedly contributed in important ways to the expansion of infrastructure and to creating opportunities for greater engagement with global knowledge systems. Such achievements deserve acknowledgement irrespective of political affiliations. At the same time, there are structural concerns within the educational ecosystem that require deeper and more urgent interventions.
I would therefore like to draw your attention to two areas that, in my understanding, demand serious consideration:
1. the quality of English language learning in higher education institutions, and
2. the legal empowerment of women students and women employees within campuses.
1. The Crisis Behind Educational Statistics
Kerala rightly takes pride in its literacy rates and educational indicators. However, there is a growing need to distinguish between literacy, academic excellence, and employability.
Our educational culture increasingly appears driven by:
grade production,
pass percentages,
and institutional rankings.
Yet, behind these encouraging statistics lies a more uncomfortable reality. A significant number of students entering Arts and Science colleges continue to struggle with foundational English language competencies. Reading academic texts, participating confidently in discussions, writing coherently, and articulating ideas in professional spaces remain deeply challenging for many students.
This is not an argument for privileging English at the expense of Malayalam. Malayalam must continue to remain central to our cultural and administrative life. However, in a globally interconnected academic and professional landscape, competence in English has become indispensable for:
higher education,
research,
innovation,
employability,
and global academic mobility.
Students who lack confidence in English communication often find themselves excluded from:
interviews,
campus placements,
competitive examinations,
and advanced academic opportunities.
The issue therefore is not linguistic elitism but educational equity.
Perhaps the time has come to initiate a comprehensive review of language pedagogy within schools and higher education institutions:
How do students reach undergraduate classrooms without confidence in basic language skills?
Are we prioritising memorisation over communication?
Are our systems rewarding grades without ensuring competencies?
If students at the undergraduate level continue to struggle with basic spellings and sentence construction, the issue is clearly systemic rather than individual.
Kerala’s educational excellence must ultimately be measured not merely through statistical achievements, but through the quality of learners we nurture.
2. Women’s Empowerment Beyond Policy Language
Sir, another issue that deserves urgent attention is the question of legal literacy and gender justice within higher education institutions.
The language of women’s empowerment appears prominently in policy documents and official discourses. Yet empowerment cannot remain an abstract slogan. It must translate into institutional practices and everyday awareness.
Most higher education institutions today formally constitute Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in compliance with UGC norms and the POSH Act, 2013. However, the existence of committees on paper alone cannot guarantee gender-sensitive campuses.
The POSH Act mandates:
awareness programmes,
sensitisation workshops,
orientation initiatives,
and periodic reporting mechanisms.
Yet, in many institutions, these remain largely procedural formalities. There is an urgent need to:
audit the functioning of ICCs,
ensure the presence of legally mandated external member,
conduct regular orientation programmes for faculty, staff, and students,
and create campus cultures where women feel safe approaching institutional mechanisms.
Equally important is the question of legal literacy among girl students.
Kerala today witnesses increasing public discussions surrounding:
dowry-related violence,
domestic abuse,
cyber harassment,
and gender discrimination.
In such a context, legal awareness becomes essential not merely for protection, but for empowerment itself.
Higher education institutions must become spaces where young women leave not only with degrees, but with:
awareness of their legal rights,
familiarity with institutional support systems,
and the confidence to seek justice when required.
Legal literacy has the potential to transform fear into agency.
Beyond Celebration: The Need for Critical Reflection
Kerala has long projected itself as a socially progressive and politically conscious society. Much of that reputation is deserved. But progressiveness cannot survive merely as self-description. It requires continuous introspection and institutional courage.
The true strength of a democracy lies not merely in winning elections, but in its willingness to engage with uncomfortable truths after the celebrations end.
I hope your government will create spaces for such conversations - conversations that move beyond partisan binaries and focus instead on strengthening public institutions, educational quality, and social justice.
With sincere wishes for your tenure and with hope for constructive transformations in the years ahead.
Yours sincerely,
Lakshmi Sukumar
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