V. Vasanthi Devi, former Vice Chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University and former chairperson of the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women, passed away in Chennai on Friday following a sudden heart attack. She was 87.
Prof. Vasanthi Devi was the first woman vice chancellor of a university in Tamil Nadu, a post that she held for two consecutive terms from 1992 to 1998. After her retirement, she was a member of the State Planning Commission (SPC) before being appointed as the Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women (TNSCW) in 2002.
A high point in her long list of achievements was when she contested against AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa in the R.K. Nagar constituency in 2016 on the VCK symbol as the common candidate of the DMDK-led People’s Welfare Front. Interestingly, the contest pitted her against a chief minister whose government appointed her as the Vice Chancellor, nominated her to the SPC and then to the TNSCW.
Born in 1938 in Dindigul, Prof. Vasanthi Devi came from an illustrious family. She was the granddaughter of Vengal Chakkarai Chettiar, a freedom fighter, trade unionist and Christian theologist who was the president of the All India Trade Union Congress between 1954 and 1957.
She came to Chennai (then Madras) in 1954 to join Queen Mary’s College and later did her Masters from Presidency College. She did her PhD at University of the Philippines, Manila in 1980. Even while pursuing her academic career, she actively took up several causes – women’s rights, child rights and, above all, quality education for all.
Prof. Vasanthi Devi is survived by her son Narendra Subramanian, Professor of Political Science, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, and daughter Ajantha Subramanian, author and anthropologist. Her body will be donated to the Kilpauk Medical College, the family said.
“She was a great intellectual but never lost touch with the grassroot,” said Sudha Ramalingam, Senior Advocate and a longtime companion. “That connection made all the difference,” she added.
She was active with Palli Kalvi Pathukappu Iyakkam (movement for saving school education) till her last days and strongly opposed the National Education Policy and advocated free and equitable education for children. Prof. Vasanthi Devi had also pushed for empowerment of School management committees. She firmly believed that schools, particularly in rural areas, must function with greater autonomy. She ensured that teachers and parents of underprivileged children were part of such committees, Ms. Ramalingam observed.
CM’s condolences
In his condolence message, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said, “She had been campaigning against the ill effects of the National Education Policy 2020, which Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed.” He also noted that she had voiced strong criticism of the Draft UGC Regulations, 2025. Mr. Stalin added that she had been vocal in opposing the role of religion in education. “Her sudden demise is an irreparable loss to the education sector and to human rights-based activism.”
In his condolence message, P. Shanmugam, CPI(M) State general secretary, said that Prof. Vasanthi Devi was a staunch supporter of the Left movement and always stood up for the rights of the common people.
Published – August 01, 2025 11:27 pm IST
