Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

CPI(M) body to hold Ramayana month

- Ramesh Babu letters@hindustant­imes.com ■

THIRUVANAN­THAPURAM: Communism and religion may make for strange bedfellows, but not for the modern Reds in Kerala. After celebratin­g Krishna Janmashtam­i and other Hindu festivals, the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led state government is preparing to observe ‘Ramayana month’ in a big way.

In Kerala, the Malayalam month of ‘Karkidakom’ (July 17-August 16) is known as the ‘Ramayana month’ and many Hindu households read the epic daily in the belief that it will ward off sufferings.

The CPI(M)’s feeder organisati­on ‘Samskritha Sangham’ has lined up several events for the month in a move to pre-empt the Sangh Parivar from gaining mileage from the occasion.

The CPI(M) holds that since the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014, there has been a concerted move to exploit Hindu scriptures and religious practices to suit the designs of Hindutva forces, and the party is duty-bound to interpret them in the “right perspectiv­e.” Besides district-level programmes, a big convention is being planned on July 25 in the state capital to discuss the essence of Hindu vedas and epics.

CPI(M) state committee member K Shivasadan, who is associated with cultural wings, said the party has no direct role to play in the event. “Samskritha Sangham is organising some functions. It is an independen­t cultural organisati­on comprising left and independen­t intellectu­als,” he said.

In New Delhi, the CPI(M) central leadership categorica­lly denied reports of the party’s involvemen­t in the event as “baseless”. “This organizati­on is not associated with CPIM, but an independen­t one. In spite of this

THE CPI(M) HOLDS THAT SINCE THE MODI GOVT CAME TO POWER, THERE HAS BEEN A CONCERTED MOVE TO EXPLOIT HINDU SCRIPTURES, RELIGIOUS PRACTICES TO SUIT THE DESIGNS OF HINDUTVA

fact, some sections of the media have engaged in a misinforma­tion campaign against CPIM. Sanghis are upset bcos Sanskrit scholars on an independen­t platform in Kerala are going to challenge their Hindutva Manuvadi approach. They think they have a monopoly on Sanskrit scholars,” the party said in a series of tweets.

Party insiders admitted that all functions are being planned with the blessing of the party. “Some forces are misinterpr­eting epics to suit their designs. Our idea is to have a healthy debate and dialogue with various sections of society. We will interpret epics in the right perspectiv­e, not on communal lines,” a member of the Sangham speaking on the condition of anonymity said, dismissing any shift in party policy.

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