RSS padhasanchalans (route marches) in Kottayam streets in 1980s sprinkled surprises in the town, thanks to three Christian faces in Sangh ganavesh. They were Prof. O.M Mathew, BJP leader and state vice president of (erstwhile) Bharatiya Jan Sangh, Padmashree (Prof) Dr. C.I. Isaac, former member of Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and young BJP leader George Kurien.
Prof. O.M. Mathew was teaching at Baselios College, Kottayam, and Dr. C.I. Isaac was at CMS College, Kottayam. George Kurien was a Yuva Morcha leader in those days. There were the days when even Hindus were considered bête noires if they joined RSS. Sangh Swayamsevaks in Kottayam were pointing out that the trio was a sterling example of the RSS’s inclusiveness.
Three of them maintained umbilical links with the noble ideology RSS follows. They suffered personal loss and humiliation, thanks to their affiliation with RSS. Prof. Mathew was an intellectual face of RSS. Prof. Mathew rubbed shoulders with RSS leader Kummanam Rajasekharan in Nilakkal agitations of 1982, hence invited the wrath of the Church. He missed the promotion to the position of principal of Baselios College even though he deserved it, thanks to his RSS links.
Dr. C.I. Isaac was a patriotic history professor. He demolished the fake and distorted histories. He was a part of the state leadership of Bharatiya Vichar Kendra, Kerala chapter of Prajna Pravah. Modi regime honoured him by awarding Padmashree in 2023.
Even though George Kurien is junior to both Prof. Mathew and Dr. C.I. Isaac, he is more popular and famous as he is in active politics. When he joined BJP, the party did not have many followers, not only in Kottayam but also in Kerala state. He ignored the humiliation and insults he had to suffer, but, devoted his time, energy and life to the organisational activities. He started his organisational work during his college days as a worker of Vidyarthi Janata, the student wing of Janatar Party during the party’s heydays in late 1970s and early 1980s. He had to undergo SFI attacks in the campus. During those days, he used to visit RSS karyalaya to seeking protection from SFI attacks. The friendship with RSS workers brought him closer to RSS ideology.
BJP has never suffered any sort of embarrassment due to his words, deeds or speeches. He has been with BJP since the very formation of the party in 1980. He is a BSc graduate, a graduate in law and a post graduate in humanities. Kurien has shouldered several responsibilities in social life. BJP state general secretary, vice president, state spokesperson, national executive member, national vice president and secretary of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, national general secretary of Minorities Morcha, general secretary of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Education Society secretary and Fine Arts Society secretary were some among them. He was the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) when O. Rajagopal was the Minister of State for External Affairs during Atalji regime.
