CHENNAI: Amid strong criticism from politicians for appointing a non-Tamil as the Vice-Chancellor of Anna University, M K Surappa took charge on Thursday. Surappa was appointed as the V-C on April 5 by Governor Banwarilal Purohit, also the Chancellor of the institution that has about 240 colleges affiliated to it.The former director of IIT-Ropar, Surappa will hold this post for three years.
After assuming office, Surappa garlanded the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, former Chief Minister C N Annadurai and Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar on the university campus in Guindy, said a statement from Anna University Registrar S Ganesan.
Surappa’s appointment had stirred a controversy in the State with politicians condemning the Governor for appointing a person hailing from Karnataka as the V-C, when TN and Karnataka were embroiled in the Cauvery water dispute. However, in response, Surappa in an interview had told Express, “I don’t think language is a barrier to building an institution to bring excellence. The leader should be par excellence. The leader should have integrity, passion and commitment to institution.”
Surappa, who holds a doctorate in metallurgical engineering, has been teaching for about three decades. He is also a fellow of the Indian National Science Academy and a fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering. He has 150 research publications and four patents to his credit, the statement said.