Vice-President Mahadevan Pillai, former Vice-Chancellor of Kerala University, died in Ernakulam on Sunday. He was 68. He was being treated for cancer in a private hospital.
Prof. Pillai served as the Vice-Chancellor of Kerala University from 25 October 2018 to 24 October 2022. Prior to assuming this post, he had a long and distinguished career as a faculty member and Head of the Department of Optoelectronics.
Hailing from Pathanamthitta, he started his teaching career in 1982 as a physics lecturer at St. Gregorios College, Kottarakkara, where he worked till 2001. Later he joined the Department of Optoelectronics, University of Kerala.
Respected academician and researcher, Prof. Pillai, led the university as it achieved the milestone of A++ grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
The end of his tenure as Vice-Chancellor was marked by a tumultuous period that coincided with that of former Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.
In a statement, the university called his passing an irreparable loss to the academic world.
A public tribute will be held in the university senate hall on Monday at 2:30 p.m. The funeral will be held at Shantikavadam on Tuesday. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Published – 09 Nov 2025 19:34 IST
