CPI(M) body to hold Ramayana month

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 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.

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