Display of RSS Founder’s Portrait at Kerala Temple Festival Sparks Row
The Kollam Pooram festival in Kerala’s Kollam district recently witnessed a controversy after portraits of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar were displayed alongside those of social reformers like BR Ambedkar at the Ashramam temple. The display of the RSS leader’s portrait has sparked a heated debate, with several political leaders and organizations expressing their disagreement with the move.
The Kollam Pooram festival is a significant cultural event in Kerala, celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm. The festival is known for its vibrant processions, colorful decorations, and traditional performances. However, this year’s festival took a controversial turn when the portraits of RSS founder Hedgewar and social reformers like BR Ambedkar were displayed at the Ashramam temple.
The Travancore Devaswom Board, which is responsible for the management of the temple, has sought a vigilance report on the incident. The board has also initiated an inquiry into the matter to determine how the portraits were displayed without prior permission.
The display of the RSS founder’s portrait has sparked a heated debate, with several political leaders and organizations expressing their disagreement with the move. Congress leader VD Satheesan alleged that some people were attempting to politicize places of worship. “It is unfortunate that some people are trying to communalize the temple festival by displaying the portrait of an RSS leader. This is a clear attempt to divide society and create communal tension,” Satheesan said.
The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has also condemned the display of the RSS founder’s portrait, terming it as an “attempts to communalize” the festival. The committee has demanded that the government take immediate action to remove the portrait and ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) has also criticized the move, saying that it was an attempt to undermine the secular character of the festival. “The display of the RSS founder’s portrait is a clear attempt to communalize the festival and undermine its secular character. We strongly condemn this move and demand that the government take immediate action to remove the portrait,” a CPI(M) leader said.
The RSS has, however, justified the display of the founder’s portrait, saying that it was an attempt to pay tribute to the leader’s contributions to the country. “The portrait of our founder was displayed as a mark of respect and tribute to his contributions to the country. We do not believe in communalizing the festival or any other event,” an RSS leader said.
The controversy has also sparked a debate on the role of RSS in Kerala. The RSS has a significant presence in the state, with several of its cadres playing an active role in various social and cultural activities. However, the organization has also been criticized for its alleged involvement in communal activities and its opposition to secular values.
The display of the RSS founder’s portrait at the Kollam Pooram festival has sparked a heated debate, with several political leaders and organizations expressing their disagreement with the move. While some have justified the display as a mark of respect, others have condemned it as an attempt to politicize and communalize the festival. The controversy highlights the need for greater sensitivity and awareness about the importance of preserving the secular character of our cultural events and institutions.
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