Reduced age of Sankaracharya by 1000 years, spelling mistakes’; complaint of serious errors in PhD thesis of designated PSC member

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Governor has received a complaint against government’s decision to appoint DYFI leader Dr Princy Kuriakose as PSC member. The complaint said Princy got PhD using her political influence and there are false references on Sree Sankaracharya in her research. The complaint said there are also serious errors in her thesis.

The complaint was handed over to the Governor by Save University Campaign Committee. Princy got PhD on the subject of 'A comparative study of Vedic concepts of Shankaracharya and Chattambiswamy' in 2018. Her research was under former vice chancellor of Kalady University Dr Dharmaraj Adat.

Shankaracharya is believed to have lived in the eighth and ninth centuries. However, the complaint is that this reference is strange and misleading as Princy's research wrongly registered that it was in the 18th-19th centuries. It is also stated in the thesis that untouchability came into existence in the 19th century. The research also contains mistakes and grammatical errors. The complaint also accused the then VC of recommending the award of PhD despite pointing out the errors in the open defence.

Princy is the former president of DYFI Ernakulam district and a member of the state committee. Save University Campaign Committee chairman R S Shasikumar and convener M Shajarkhan alleged that the government is turning the PSC into a political appointment.