Rajith Kumar R. is an Indian lecturer, public speaker and actor from Kerala who worked at the Department of Botany, Sree Sankara College, Kalady.
In 2013, he gained attention for his making misogynistic comments during a speech at the Government Women's College, Thiruvananthapuram. This 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 people with disabilities which include claiming that women who wear jeans give birth to transgender children and that rebellious parents would have autistic children.
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. He then completed a Master of Philosophy (M. Phil) in cytogenetics and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in microbiology. 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.
Controversies 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 will 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 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 eyes. Reshma later revealed that she would file a police complaint against Rajith Kumar. Reshma claimed that she suffered corneal injury in one eye and her eyesight suffered.
When he was ousted from the show, his fans 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 on violating Covid Pandemic Regulations.
Filmography Films Year Title Role Notes 1992 Maanyanmar Hospital Staff 1998 Manthrikumaran Bank Employee Malayalam Movie 2015 Manalchithrangal Actor Feature film 2025 Anti Christ Swapnasundari Zachariah Punnoose 2022 Eesho Raveendran Released on SonyLIV Autorickshawkarante Bharya Traveller in auto 2024Nadikar Security
Short films Year Title Role Notes 2018 Daivathinte Naadu Himself Malayalam Short film 2019 Amma The son Musical video
Television Year Title Role Channel Notes 2018 Njangalkum Parayanund Guest Mathrubhumi News 2019 Janakeiya Kodathi Interviewee 24 News Episode 13 2020 Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 2) Contestant Asianet Veendum Chila Veetuviseshangal Host Asianet 2020–2021 Life is Beautiful Season 2 Alexy & Fernandez Asianet TV serial 2021 Parayam Nedam Participant Amritha TV Star Magic Participant Flowers TV channel 2023 Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 5) Challenger Asianet 2023ManimuthuDoctorMazhavil ManoramaTV serial 2026AkaleDevadathanZee KeralamTV serial Bigg Boss Agnipareeksha Guest Judge Asianet
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
References
External links