‘Hindutwa’ anxieties of the Left

The Sangh Parivar and its allies have been involved in promulgations about minority communities dominating the educational sector in modern Kerala.

The estimated number of aided and unaided educational institutions in the state shows the predominance of minority groups in the field particularly the Christian community. The activities of the Christian missionaries have contributed significantly to the educational progress of the state which has attracted even the non-Christian organizations also into this field. Their inevitable presence has been prominent even before the formation of UDF and LDF and the state of Kerala came into existence and led to the growth of modern educational institutions in the state. Hence their influence over the educational sector is obvious. Currently, majority of the educational institutions are in the hands of private sector. The Sangh Parivar has been raising allegations of minority appeasement by the UDF and LDF governments. But it could only be seen as a part of accomplishing their communal agenda and political motives. Recently the Left Front has also come forward backing the Sangh Parivar, which is odd. The recent statements of CPI state Secretary Kanam Rajendran while in Thalassery and during an interview later on a TV channel raises skepticism as such a move of a Left Front leader aiding in the Right wing’s communal agenda is least expected.

But his statements are not spontaneous. After 1980, anti-minority waves have been brewing up in the Left Front. The party had tested the political contrivance of regaining power through the polarization of majority votes in kerala, not to forget the reluctance of accepting the secular stance during the period of radical Hindu progress in the 90s. But after the Aruvikkara elections, the aversion is apparently intensifying. DYFI activists had protested against the Education Minister Abdu Rabb in Kozhikode with lighted lamps near his stage for his refusal to light a lamp (Nilavilakku) at a function on religious grounds. Thomas Isaac of CPI had said that ‘Hindu’ and ‘Muslim’ Panchayats would be created in Kerala if communal considerations play a role in the delimitation process of block Panchayats. The former Minister is unknown about the religion followed by the majority community that existed before the Panchayats began to exist. Kanam Ragendran had said during the channel interview about the Muslim population coming up to 32 per cent. But he refused to substantiate his claims by presenting the actual statistics.

Question arises whether the Left should be anxious about any community emerging as a majority or minority population. Even if the data presented by Rajendran is accurate, it is not the duty of the Left to retain any area as a Hindu majority region. The progress and the welfare of the worker class irrespective of religion and community should be the priority of the Left Front. The BJP state meeting held on July 21 in Kozhikode reinforced the statements of Rajendran with more venom. Evident communalism is the core of their policy and a CPI leader supporting the BJP with the help of such a policy is despicable. It is foolish to think that the soft stance followed by the Left would practically benefit the party. Their present attitude and approach would only land the party into more trouble both ideologically and practically.