T Satisan, Kochi
THERE was a time when communists were atheists and were always at logger heads with sanyasins and Hindu spiritual leaders. They were not so unhappy with the minority spiritual leaders (thanks to the glorious vote-bank, a unique phenomenon in Indian political arena) when they did not like to touch the Hindu spiritual leaders even with a bamboo pole. Now, wherever you go in Kerala you are welcomed with the hoardings and publicity boards of DYFI, the youth wing of CPM. They all speak out the road show of DYFI leader T.V. Rajesh, MLA. The publicity materials raise all eyebrows just because of the presence of Hindu spiritual and social leaders like Swami Vivekananda, Sri Narayana Guru and Dalits’ rights champion Mahatma Ayyankali who led the first farmers’ strike in the whole country more than 100 years before. His 150th birth anniversary is being celebrated in Kerala along with Swami Vivekananda Jayanthi.
It now looks like that CPM wants to get back the Hindu votes which they have been missing since the last few decades. Their excess connection with Muslim fanatics like PDP leader Abdul Nasser Al Madani (now jailed in Karnataka in connection with Bangalore blasts) during the Parliament elections of 2009 had cost CPM a fortune. Even though they confessed after the election that Madani link was wrong, they are still hands-in-glove with those forces. Left leaders visited Madani in Bangalore jail and then met Karnataka CM and asked him to provide Madani with proper medicare. In fact they were competing with their arch rival, ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Madani issue. It is reported that CPM launched a front organisation for Muslims. So, the observes believe that the right way to balance this pro-minority policy is to exhibit their Hindu credentials. The easiest way is to highlight Swami Vivekananda as his pictures are very much popular in the State in connection with his150th birth anniversary. They highlight Sri Narayana Guru to woo the Hindu Ezhava community which enjoys a large vote-bank and Ayyankali to keep the Dalits in good humours. Both luminaries came up from those two communities respectively. Interestingly DYFI hoardings do not display the pictures of Karl Marx, Lenin or EMS, let alone Kerala CPM supremo Pinarayi Vijayan or his persona non grata and opposition leader VS Achuthanandan.
And, of course Mahatma Gandhi is a blue eyed boy for them (let us forget what they used to say about Gandhiji during the freedom struggle!!!). The posters and hoardings display Mahatmaji’s face too!
Keralites in general and those who know about the saga of Vivekananda Rock Memorial in particular, are taken by surprise when they come across DYFI hoardings with Vivekananda pictures. Because, when all state governments contributed towards the rock memorial funds, Kerala government led by CPM veteran EMS Namboothirippad was the only exception to evade from the noble cause.
Late Eknath Ranade, the former RSS general secretary and the former organising secretary of Rock Memorial Committee, had described his meeting with EMS in this regard. Ranade wrote in his memoirs that it was like talking to a rock. During the whole meeting EMS did not utter a single word. And, records say that EMS government did not donate a single penny. Therefore, whatever the reason may be, if comrades carry Vivekananda at the moment, no doubt it is a welcome change. When Big Brother took a new line, CPI has followed the suit too. Their hoardings also display Swami Vivekananda prominently. Such hoarding are displayed in Kochi in connection with Bharathiya Kheth Mazdoor Sangh national executive to be held shortly in the city. It is going to be addressed by CPI national secretary Sudhakar Reddy. Observers wonder if comrades are going to carry the pictures of RSS leaders Dr K.B Hedgewar and Guruji MS Golwalkar if it fetch them more votes.
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