V.P. Mahadevan Pillai, former Vice Chancellor of Kerala University, passed away in Ernakulam on Sunday. He was 68. He was undergoing treatment for cancer in a private hospital.
Prof. Pillai served as the Vice Chancellor of Kerala University from October 25, 2018, to October 24, 2022. Before assuming this position, he had a long and distinguished career as a faculty member and Head of the Department of Optoelectronics.
Hailing from Pathanamthitta, he began his teaching career in 1982 as a physics lecturer at St. Gregorios College, Kottarakkara, where he served until 2001. Later, he joined the Department of Optoelectronics at the Kerala University.
A respected academic and researcher, Prof. Pillai helmed the university when it achieved the milestone of A++ grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
The fag end of his tenure as Vice Chancellor was marked by a tumultuous period that coincided with the term of former Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.
In a statement, the university termed his demise as an irreparable loss to the academic world.
A public homage will be held at the University Senate Hall at 2.30 p.m. on Monday. The funeral will be held at Shantikavadam on Tuesday. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Published – November 09, 2025 07:34 pm IST
