Rajith Kumar R. is an Indian lecturer and reality game show participant from Kerala, who has been controversial for his misogynistic and transphobic remarks, and was later a popular contestant in the Malayalam-language TV game show Bigg Boss Malayalam on Asianet TV. He was ejected from the show for assaulting a female contestant by rubbing chilli paste into her eyes.
A lecturer at the Department of Botany, Sree Sankara College, Kalady, he gained attention in 2013 for making misogynistic comments during a speech he made to a group of female students as an invited speaker at the Government Women’s College, Thiruvananthapuram. The incident led to a backlash against him as well as the college authorities who had invited him. He has since made multiple comments that were criticized for being sexist, transphobic, unscientific and insensitive to the differently-abled. These include claiming that women who wear jeans give birth to transgender children and that rebellious parents would have autistic children.
Rajith Kumar received renewed attention in 2020 as a contestant in the second season of Malayalam reality TV show Bigg Boss. The show involves isolating a selected group of people in a house and airing their interactions. Gaining a substantial fan base over the course of the contest, Rajith Kumar was ejected from the show for assaulting a fellow contestant Reshma Nair by rubbing chilli paste over her eyes, shortly before the show was cancelled due to the outbreak of COVID-19. His ousting led to an uproar from fans, who crowded at the Cochin International Airport to receive him at a time when the state was adopting measures against the early-stage pandemic.
Life and career
Born in Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, Rajith Kumar graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) in Botany from Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram and a Masters of Science (MSc.) in Botany from N. S. S. College, Pandalam (with first rank). He then completed a Master of Philosophy (M. Phil) in cytogenetics and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in microbiology (with gold medal). He also has a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree in natural science, a bachelor’s degree in library and information science (BLIS), a master’s degree (M.S) in psychotherapy, and a diploma in Vedanta. He has also passed the UGC NET examination.
He was a former teacher at Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Attingal and now works as a Junior Lecturer at the Department of Botany at Sree Sankara College, Kalady. He has authored several books and was awarded the Samoohya Saksharatha Prathibha Award by Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority, Government of Kerala.
Controversial Remarks
In 2013, while speaking at Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram at the “moral education” campaign organised by the Department of General and Higher Education, he criticised women’s current dressing style. It received media attention after a student protested by booing and boycotting the speech. Shobhana George complained against his statement in the Kerala State Human Rights Commission which asked the Collegiate Education Department to enquire into the matter. Deputy Director Girija Devi who conducted the enquiry reported that Kumar’s speech was “a piece of art and the opposition by a graduate student to the speech was an immature response”.
In 2018, in a counselling session held in Kasaragod he reportedly made the unscientific and misogynistic statement that women who wear jeans can give birth to transgender children and the children born to rebel men and women is found to be autistic, claiming to have scientific backing. He received rebuke, and it was pointed out in media that it was ill-informed, unscientific, and offensive. Kumar defended it saying that there are efforts to put him in bad light and only a certain portion from his 4-hour long speech was taken and is used to create misunderstanding among people. He reiterated and defended his statements again in the show Njangalkum Parayanund in Mathrubhumi News. Following that, health minister K. K. Shailaja released a press note barring Kumar from speaking in government programmes, citing that he spreads superstition and social discord. Although his statements has received criticism, he has also found support from a section of public. Following the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Kerala, he said that he had a ‘pure heart’ and therefore he cannot be infected with coronavirus.
Bigg Boss Malayalam 2020
In 2020, he entered the Bigg Boss house as a contestant in the reality television show Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 2) on Asianet. He was ousted from the show after he rubbed chilli paste on fellow contestant Reshma Nair’s eye on camera. Reshma later revealed that she will file a police complaint against Rajith Kumar. Rajith Kumar claimed that he did not hurt her. Reshma claimed that she suffered corneal injury in one eye and her eyesight suffered. Rajith Kumar claimed that he will file case against those who spread falshoods against him.
When he was ousted from the show, his supporters organized a public gathering to welcome him at Cochin International Airport. The gathering was organized despite the government’s cautionary measures against the coronavirus pandemic. Rajith and 79 other people involved in the gathering were booked by the police for flouting government advisory. He was released on bail after questioning.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Manalchithrangal | Actor | Feature film |
| 2018 | Njangalkum Parayanund | Guest and subject | Episode 252, Mathrubhumi News talk show |
| 2018 | Daivathinte Naadu | Actor | Short film |
| 2019 | Janakeiya Kodathi | Interviewee | Episode 13, Twentyfour News interview by Arun Kumar |
| 2019 | Amma | Actor | Music video |
| 2020 | Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 2) | Contestant | Reality TV show on Asianet, 70 episodes |
| 2020 | Veendum Chila Veetuviseshangal | Host | Comedy Talk show |
| 2020–present | Life is Beautiful Season 2 | Alexy & Fernandez | TV series On Asianet |
| 2021 | Parayam Nedam | Participant | Amritha TV |
| 2021 | Star Magic | Participant | Flowers |
Awards
- 2009: Samoohya Saksharatha Prathibha from Chirayinkeezhu panchayat and Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority.
- 2010: Rashtra Sevana Prathibha Puraskar from Global Confederation of Pravasee Malayalees
- 2017: Dr. Ambedkar Excellency Service National Award from Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Akademi
- 2017: Samoohya Sevana Rathnam from Kerala Urban Development Council
- 2018: Gem of Kerala (Keralaratnam) from Global Confederation of Pravasee Malayalees
- 2018: Gurushreshta Puraskaram from Vanitha Congress (M)
- 2019: Shri. Vedavyasa Puraskaram from Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Akademi