Dr. V. Vasanthi Devi, Former Vice-Chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Passes Away

India lost a distinguished academic and social reformer as Dr. V. Vasanthi Devi, former Vice-Chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, passed away on August 1, 2025, following a cardiac arrest at her residence in Velachery. She was 86 years old. Her demise is being seen as a major loss to the fields of education, gender equality, human rights, and progressive movements.

Early Life and Academic Journey

Born in 1938 in Dindigul, Dr. Vasanthi Devi pursued her higher studies at Presidency College, later moving to the Philippines in the 1970s to complete her PhD. Throughout her career, she was recognised as a progressive academician who pushed for educational reforms and equitable access to learning.

Leadership Roles in Education

Dr. Vasanthi Devi served as the second Vice-Chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University from 1992 to 1998, where she focused on expanding access to higher education. Later, she held the position of Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women between 2002 and 2005, addressing key issues related to women’s rights and safety.

In 1987, she also led a teachers’ agitation in Tamil Nadu, highlighting the need to secure educators’ rights and strengthen the teaching community.

Political Foray and Activism

At the age of 76, Dr. Devi entered electoral politics, contesting the RK Nagar Assembly constituency in 2016 as a candidate of VCK under the People’s Welfare Alliance, directly taking on then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. Although she secured only 2.4% of the votes, her bold step earned wide attention and respect.

She remained a vocal critic of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, opposing the centralisation of education and strongly advocating for education to be placed back in the State List of the Constitution.