The Kerala government on Tuesday, December 6 appointed eminent dancer Mallika Sarabhai as the Chancellor of Kerala Kalamandalam deemed-to-be University for Art and Culture. An order issued by the Cultural Affairs Department said that she has been chosen for the top post as per a clause of the Memorandum of Association of the Kalamandalam which says that "the Chancellor shall be an eminent person in the field of art and culture appointed by the sponsoring body."

State Cultural Affairs Minister V N Vasavan's office later said in a statement that the LDF government believes that the appointment of Sarabhai as Chancellor would be highly beneficial for the institution.

Born as the daughter of renowned dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai and space scientist Vikram Sarabhai, Mallika Sarabhai is a world renowned Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi performer, an official statement said. Apart from being a dancer, she has also proved her abilities in the areas of theatre, film and television and also established herself as a writer, publisher and director, it added.

Sarabhai's appointment comes weeks after the Pinarayi Vijayan government had amended the rules of the Kalamandalam to remove Governor Arif Mohammed Khan as its Chancellor. 

A notification by the state’s department of culture had earlier said that the government has decided to amend the executive order issued in 2015 to make the Governor chancellor of Kerala Kalamandalam. Further, the Governor’s assent was not required in this case since Kerala Kalamandalam is a deemed-to-be university and does not come under the ambit of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The amendment was made amidst the government's ongoing tussle with Khan over functioning of universities, including appointment of Vice-Chancellors, in the state. The amended rules of the deemed university also stated that the governance system and management structure of the Kerala Kalamandalam shall be in accordance with the decision of the state government.