The Rise and Fall of Secularism in Kerala

Pseudo-secularism has lost its supremacy in Kerala in the information war and common man in Kerala has started realizing the real aim of vested interest groups who had brainwashed them with their selective interpretation of secularism to achieve social and political supremacy

One of the leading novelists in Kerala P Vatsala, recently startled the intelligentsia of the state when she said at a public meeting that she is proud to be a Hindu and showered praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi lavishly.  Further, she took on the leader of left writers forum (called PUKASA in Malayalam) and exposed their hypocrisy.

This was just unimaginable in Kerala till a few years ago when it was fashionable for writers, film personalities and others belonging to the intelligentsia to be critical of Hinduism in public to prove their “Secular” credentials. This was a culture forced by the Left in Kerala, especially by CPI (M) offering benefits to those who yielded and using threat and violence to subjugate others refused to yield.

For the 'progressive' in Kerala, Hindu culture is associated with superstition and Hindu Saints are mocked as Demi Gods (Aal Daivam in Malayalam). Hindu religion is portrayed by the Left as full of discriminations based on castes. However, Communist and pseudo-progressive groups are particular not to offend the religious sensibilities of Muslims and to a certain extent Christians and never attack the contradictions in their belief.  

In government schools, where majority of children in Kerala once studied, they were brainwashed to feel that Hindu scriptures approved discrimination and the Hindu Past of Kerala was associated with feudal oppression. The curriculum always tried to misinterpret and misrepresent Hindu lifestyle and hid the shocking cruelties and blatant discriminations that existed and are existing in organized religions.

Vatsala has now exposed the hollowness of Kerala Model Secularism and dared to declare that the “King is Nude”. Many others knew that earlier but didn’t have the guts to say it publicly. But now with the social and political conditions in India changing, things are changing in Kerala also. Pseudo-Secularism, a hypocrisy popularized in Kerala by the Left has now started to lose its popularity in Kerala now. Hindus in Kerala are now realizing the way out of the Labyrinth of Pseudo-Secularism to which they were thrown in. Pseudo-seculars are really panicked as their labyrinth has started crumbling. Their reaction to this is on expected lines;SECULARISM IS IN DANGER, COMMUNALISM IS ON THE RISE, they are wailing. However, the common man in Kerala is not losing their sleep over the secular moaning and is not impressed by the verbal jugglery of pseudo-secularists.

Now why all on a sudden secularism became a not so admired word in Kerala and the social engineering of Muslim-Backward Unity which the pseudo-secular mafia was trying to implement is at a standstill. The political, social and spiritual structure which the pseudo-secular mafia was trying to build in Kerala replacing the existing system is showing signs of cracking. Why is this happening? How did the public saw the real faces of wolves who approached them wearing the veil of goats?

The answer is simple. You cannot fool everyone forever. If secularism means everyone renouncing their special rights based on religion and deciding to become humans, it is really great. But if a group of people interpret secularism in a selective way and implement it to establish their supremacy then, on the day the exploited group realizes the ploy, they will retaliate. Moreover in Kerala, extremist groups infiltrated secular platforms and secured supremacy turning Hindus away from it.

 Let us analyse the situation to understand the story.

Though Kerala also had the history of communal violence and mass killings like any other Indian state or country in the world (remember the communal pogrom known as Moplah Riots) there are some positive aspects also in Kerala’s social life. Here people of all religions live side by side and the Ghetto culture is not widespread. All Keralites speak Malayalam. (Unlike Muslims in Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Karnataka who speak Urdu and local language, Kerala Muslims speak only Malayalam). The food habits and costumes of all Keralites are almost similar. Puradh system became common in Kerala only by 90s.

But despite all these there positive aspects, tension has been brewing in the social set up and communalism has also grown in a covert way. While Kerala was polarized on political lines from 1960s to 1980s, by 1990s Kerala society started getting polarized based on religion. What were there reasons?

They are; 1. Information revolution gave the public access to facts 2. Growth of political and economic power of Minorities leading to growing disparity among Hindus and Christians and Muslims, 3.Rise of Terrorism and Backlash against appeasement of minorities from Hindus. Rise of terrorism means in Kerala infiltration of secular parties and non governmental organisations by extremists and taking control. Though the Hindus have not realized the depth of the plan, the vitriolic attack in the name of secularism has created an aversion to Secularism among them

Information revolution

Once, information was the monopoly of pseudo-secular groups in Kerala. There were two systems only; one lead by communists and other by Congress and allies. Communists denigrated Hindu culture while preaching secularism and always turned a blind eye to the glaring inequalities and contradictions among minority religions, Congress and allied groups did not denigrate Hindusim initially, but they toed a soft pro-minority line accepting the supremacy of minority leaders and sidelining Hindu culture slowly. Media also toed an anti Hindu culture line in social issues and thus the available information was selective and against Hindu culture.

With the communication and information revolution, the glaring inequalities in other cultures also came into light. Though media continues to be controlled by minority groups in the fight to gain Supremacy they are also exposing each other thus letting Hindus know the huge injustices in their culture also. The young generation who uses net now knows very well the discrimination based on birth that denies rights to blacks and native Americans and Black Muslims and tribal Muslims of Arabia. The atrocities of Islamic State and other terror groups can’t be hidden anymore. Everyone now knows the mass killings by Communists in the name of secularism. Hindus have thus realized that compared to the inequalities in other cultures Hindu culture is far more egalitarian and democratic.

Growth of Political and Economic Power of minorities in Kerala

Organised religions of Christianity and Islam had been co-existing in Kerala during the past centuries.  However , Hindus had the upper hand in society. But this has changed over the last few years.

As Christianity and Islam are transnational religions, they have got international economic and political connections. This has given them more money and power in the form of foreign aid and as the world is becoming a global village. Flow of unlimited funds from Europe and the Western countries to Kerala through church sponsored institutions has opened unlimited opportunities to Christian community in Kerala. Foreign funds helped the church and NGOs to open different institutions and thus they increased their reach and influence.

In the meanwhile the rise of the Middle East has improved the economic status of Muslim community and their organisations in Kerala. While from 1960s to 1980s Christians were the richest community in Kerala, now Muslims have replaced them as the richest. The Muslim population in Kerala has also risen to over 26 per cent of the total population. The increase in population in Muslim dominated Malappuram district has resulted in more MLAs for Muslim League and they have more (five) ministers in state cabinet which contributes almost 20 per cent for Muslim League only. Kerala Muslims are highly educated and in competitive examinations and entrance tests to medical and engineering courses they win top ranks also.

Muslims are undoubtedly the richest group and are educationally and socially forward in Kerala. They are addressed as Sahib, Muthalali (means owner of wealth) or Kakka (the elder) etc in Kerala. Majority of land is owned by them and they are the highest foreign exchange earners from Kerala. They have never been discriminated against socially. But all governments give them reservation in jobs, in educational institutions, financial aid to widows, low interest loans, pensions to teachers of their religious schools etc, many of which are not available to even scheduled castes. But look at the plight of Nairs who get a pittance from the government and still supposed to bear the secular burden.

Anybody who questions the social inequalities in Kerala gets branded as anti-secular and RSS follower. Pseudo-secular groups, especially the Leftists used to divert attention of lower caste Hindus by highlighting the so called discriminations practiced in the past against them by the upper caste. But at present, the youth among backward and scheduled castes in Kerala are mostly concerned about present day discriminations rather than discriminations in the past which are misinterpreted to suit the interests of some groups now. The result is they are no more enthused in the pseudo-secular narratives.

Rise of Terrorism in Kerala

Rise of terrorism in Kerala is another reason why Hindus have lost affinity for Secularism. Terrorist organisations  in Kerala recruit from fundamentalist groups. Fundamentalist groups gained prominence in Kerala in 90s when the Left established links with them to gain their votes. (Eg. Are Jamaat, PDP lead by Mahdhani, Moreover, The rise of fundamentalist groups in Kerala was indirectly helped by the ideological campaign of the Left against Hindu culture. Since none, including the Left never attacked flaws in the ideology of Muslim fundamentalist groups, they could convince the society easily as a best ideology. This created a situation in Kerala conducive for their growth. The left parties and Congress compete with each other to bail out workers of fundamentalist groups even if they are caught by law enforcement agencies.

Terror groups in Kerala float frontal organisations and acquire huge assets. They operate hawala rackets and drugs and gold smuggling. They engage in Love Jihad and kill at will. Extremist groups have infiltrated Congress and CPM in Kerala and changed the meaning of Secularism practised by these parties. They make highly aggressive attacks on Hindu belief system. They interpret every Hindu custom as against secularism. They pressurise political and cultural organisations to portray all that is linked to Hindu culture as related to RSS and BJP. Even terrorists and Pakistan are praised by the secularists. Naturally Hindus of all castes have found this too much. This extremist variety of Secularism is in fact the root cause that destroyed secularism in Kerala.

It is difficult to write everything because of lack of space. Are these not enough reasons for the common man to move away from pseudo-secularism? The real need in Kerala now is equal justice for all followers of all Dharmas. A Muslim country like the UAE recently passed anti-discriminatory laws. There needs to arise in Kerala a situation when everyone irrespective of their religion has equal access to all rights and covert operations of pseudo-secular groups should end. Then Kerala will become the real land of Mahabali where there is justice for all and discrimination against none.

Rebellion in NSS against Sukumaran Nair's leadership

NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair seems to be in a predicament after his outburst against noted film actor Suresh Gopi. Several Karayogams which are the basic units of NSS have passed resolutions against him. Many have demanded that he step down immediately for his continuous immature behavior.

In a development which is humiliating for Mr. Nair, the Karayogam of NSS President P N Narendranathan Nair is (his home unit) reported to have passed a resolution attacking Sukumaran Nair. Even the women’s wing of NSS has passed resolutions demanding his stepping down.

While dissent against Sukumaran Nair is in the open, none is coming out to openly support him. The voice of his supporters is feeble. While they try to defend Mr. Nair, they are keen not to antagonize his detractors too. Many observe that Sukumaran Nair’s advisors are misleading him. Some others say he has already lost ability to take independent decisions and so is depending on a coterie.

While as per the complex structure of NSS, it is almost impossible to oust general secretaries, it is also impossible to oust office bearers of those Karayogams which have passed resolutions against General Secretary. It means in reality, while Sukumaran Nair will continue to hold office open dissent against him in NSS will also increase.

A general secretary without any influence in grass root units will soon become a lion without nails and teeth. He may still frighten a few with his roars but people will lose respect of him soon. That also means once political party leaders and leaders of Church (Nair has more admirers in the Churches than in NSS) will soon realize that he is powerless and will shun his company. Eventually Mr. Nair may cut a sorry figure.

Moreover a complex political and social situation arising in Kerala with BJP also becoming a strong force Mr Nair’s Correct Distance Within Equal Distance policy(Sama Doorthinullile Shari Dooram) (Read as supporting a handful of Congress and Kerala Congress leaders  who are loyal to him personally while fighting other Congress leaders and all other parties) will not be relevant anymore. So it is tough time ahead for Mr Sukumaran Nair. It seems he is in a complex situation.

Saving Nairs and NSS from the Secular Trap, reminding G Sukumaran Nair of the dangers ahead

Like his predecessor P K Narayana Panicker, Nair Service Society General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair also seems to have fallen into the trap carefully camouflaged as secular and set with love at the NSS headquarters in Perunna in Kerala by Imperialist minority leaders in Kerala. These leaders are a part of Global groups with their network and interests spreading over continents and possessing billions of Dollars and Riyals and along with fire power.

Sukumaran Nair began with a bang when he took charge by mounting a direct attack on Congress leaders who use NSS for promoting their personal interests and exposing the strategy of minority groups who used to hoodwink NSS by praising NSS general secretaries personally to ensure that NSS doesn’t oppose when government grants all benefits for minorities.

But by blindly supporting the same group of corrupt and communal political and minority leaders in return for nothing Nair’s rebellion against Minority domination in Kerala has ended as a storm in a teacup. Now NSS general secretary is trying to prove his secular credentials by unleashing attack on BJP and Hindu organisations which has pleased fundamentalist and communal groups. Further as per newspaper reports during by elections to Aruvikkara assembly constituency in Kerala Mr Nair has commented that none should try to portray that NSS is supporting BJP.

A Question to Nairs

Based on Sukumaran Nair’s observations on BJP, Nair community needs to ask themselves “Is it such a bad thing for Nairs to align with BJP, RSS and other Hindutva groups?” Let us check if Hindu groups have done any harm to Nairs in the past and do Nairs need to join the current Hindu upsurge in Kerala which is now being powered by SNDP Yogam, Kerala Pulayar Mahasabha etc?

Let us check the attack against Nairs in the past and find who were behind it.

First Attack against Hindu social structure in Malabar

The first attack against Hindu social structure in Kerala was the organized attacks against Hindus in Malabar (North Kerala) which began mainly with the attack on North Kerala by Hyder Ali and his notorious son Tipu Sultan. Namboothirirs and Nairs had to bear the brunt of the ire of attacks on Hindu social structure in Malabar which was spearheaded by Tipu Sultan and aimed at replacing the social structure of Kerala with an Islamic system. This was aided by local Muslim elite as per historic records. It was this organized effort that later lead to isolated attacks against Hindu landlords in the latter half of 19 th century, which ended as the notorious Pogrom Moplah Rebellion on 1921. The public knows only the Pogrom of 1921 which is now known as Moplah Rebellion and not the series of smaller attacks that preceded it.

The attacks of 1921 were ruthless in execution and massive in its impact. It altered the demography of Northern Kerala. Nairs had to flee several northern Kerala districts. It also altered the social structure of Northern Kerala permanently. Many Nair families were turned internal migrants. Thousands were killed; women were raped, many were converted to alien cultures,

The aftermath of Malabar Pogrom is the most shocking. The attackers are now called freedom fighters. Decedents of victims don’t have the right to even protest. The victims are now further humiliated by terming them as feudalists who harassed the poor and in turn got killed in an uprising. Intelligent Nairs need to remind themselves that though the really poor groups in Kerala were scheduled castes and tribes and they never devised a rebellion. They never took part in Moplah Rebellion. So Moplah Rebellion was not an uprising of the poor. It was an organized pogrom by minority groups to alter the social structure of Kerala.

Glorifying violence through pseudo-secular narratives

The Communists and self proclaimed progressive groups in Kerala whitewashed Moplah Rebellion of 1921 as an agrarian revolt thinking that if the then social structure was altered Communists could use the opportunity to establish their install their own structure and gain hegemony among Hindus and Minorities. However they could only conquer the loyalty of Hindus by threatening them. Minorities strengthened Muslim League and forced Communists to accept them as Secular party.

The strengthening of Muslim League in Malabar altered the social setup there. Simultaneously there was another development; Migration of Christians from Kottayam, Idukki etc to Malabar who established their fiefdoms in Kannur and Kasaragod. This Colonisation also had social and political connotations and was done with the active support of the Church. However Communists and Progressive narrated this as golden episode in Human Hard Work. Here also they thought the migrants will join Communists. However they formed their own Kerala Congress and some supported Congress. But their colonization was given respectability by the narrative of Communists and other pseudo-progressive groups. Final result is Nairs lost out completely in Malabar and in the modern pseudo-secular narratives, communal riots in Malabar became agrarian revolts and encroachments of forests and exploitation of tribal groups became experiments in ‘civilizing illiterates.’

Cobbling Minority-Backward-Dalit Grand alliance

Attempts of imperialist minority groups to divide Hindus and gain supremacy in Kerala reached new dimensions after independence in the form of organizing Minority-Backward alliance. It gained momentum in Kerala in 1970s and 80s when SNDP Yogam was influenced completely by Muslim social organisations for Muslim-Backward-Dalit alliance. By placing SNDP on the forefront, these groups for the first time unleashed attacks on Hindu social set ups in South, Central and North Kerala. Meetings organized by them throughout Kerala spewed communal venom against upper castes. Upper castes were portrayed as villains and Kerala’s history was misinterpreted to suit their aims. Pseudo-Secular groups supported those imperialist minority leaders.

Isolation of NSS

NSS was isolated during the period.  Every group except Nairs got reservations. Thousands of crores of rupees were granted to those groups. In Politics, Muslim League became an indomitable group. Minority groups gained whatever they needed in by putting Hindu backward groups in the front and dumping them after use. But this did not last long.

As SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan realized the machinations of minority groups he broke away from the coalition. Dalit groups also realized the danger and distanced themselves from minority groups. The Grand alliance has irreparably broken now. Minority groups are now afraid to approach them for exploitation.

The growth of RSS and BJP has now changed the situation in Kerala. None dares to escape by criticizing the culture of majority community in Kerala. Efforts to ensure real social equilibrium in Kerala have gained momentum.

Now the only hope for vested interest groups is Nair Service Society. They have succeeded in breaking repeated attempts in Kerala to form Hindu unity by influencing NSS. They are misguiding NSS leadership. Does NSS needs to support them. Are they the real supporters of what NSS stands for? Sukumaran Nair does not have many chances. Nair needs to escape from the Secular Trap. If he fails to realize realities and real enemies he will be dumped into the garbage of history by the community. Nairs don’t want to gain hegemony but we won’t allow anyone to gain Suzerainty over us. Remember that we are a group that defeated Tipu at Aluva and stopped his advances to Travancore. We want to live in dignity along with all other groups in a pluralistic society where there is no discrimination against anyone on the basis of caste, religion or colour. For that let us join other Hindus in the current resurgence.