SRM University Dismisses Dalit Christian Professor Over Anti-War WhatsApp Posts

Chennai, 10 December 2025 — SRM University in Chennai has dismissed assistant professor Lora Santhakumar, a Dalit Christian academic, after an internal inquiry concluded that her anti-war views expressed in personal WhatsApp status messages during the India–Pakistan conflict amounted to “grave misconduct”, prompting her immediate termination from her position at the university’s Career Development Centre. 

Santhakumar was first suspended on 8 May after students allegedly leaked her phone number, photo and WhatsApp status posts to right-wing social media accounts, triggering targeted online abuse, harassing phone calls and death threats that forced her to leave her home in Chennai and return to her hometown of Kallakurichi for her safety. 

The university’s termination order, which followed an internal inquiry held at the Kattankulathur campus between 15 July and 26 September, accused her of posting “unethical remarks” against the Indian armed forces and acting against national interests, and claimed she had identified herself as an SRM faculty member in her comments. The inquiry was headed by the Director of Student Affairs, Dr Nisha Ashokan, and the committee submitted its report to the registrar on 30 October. 

In May, Santhakumar shared a series of WhatsApp statuses expressing strong opposition to war, warning against the dangers of conflict and urging people to consider its human cost. Though she maintained that the posts were made on a personal account outside the university system and not directed at the nation or linked to her professional role, the inquiry committee ruled that all five charges against her were proven. 

SRM University has allowed her 30 days to appeal the decision to the vice-chancellor, who serves as the appellate authority. Santhakumar has described the inquiry as flawed, asserting that the allegations were misconstrued and that she was not given a fair defence, and she has indicated she is pursuing legal action against online attackers and has filed a petition with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Special Cell.

Source and Image Credits : The News Minute