Kerala: Janmabhumi editor gifts ‘Rig Veda’ to Pope Francis at Vatican

He recalled the precedent set by E.K. Nayanar, former Chief Minister of Kerala and Pinarayi Vijayan, who was minister in Nayanar Ministry, who had presented a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to Pope John Paul II during a similar meeting.

P. Sreekumar, the Senior News Editor and Online Editor of the Janmabhumi Malayalam daily, gifted a text of the Rig Veda to Pope Francis, the head of the global Catholic Church and the Vatican. The occasion was the “All Religions’ Conference” held in the Vatican on 29-30 November 2024, as part of the centenary celebrations of the historic interfaith conference organised by the Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust.

Sreekumar’s decision to gift the Rig Veda was inspired by a deeply personal question: what could serve as the most meaningful offering to the Pontiff? He recalled the precedent set by E.K. Nayanar, former Chief Minister of Kerala and Pinarayi Vijayan, who was minister in Nayanar Ministry, who had presented a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to Pope John Paul II during a similar meeting. Reflecting on this, Sreekumar resolved to honour Hindu philosophy’s foundational text, the Vedas, by gifting the Rig Veda.

Sreekumar, who is also a swayamsevak, recalls that his decision was guided by the teachings of Swami Satyananda Saraswati, who often emphasised during his lifetime that the Vedas are the cornerstone of Hindu thought and philosophy. Inspired by this vision, the Kerala Hindus of North America initiated a project to distribute copies of the Rig Veda, complete with Sanskrit text and English translations. This initiative gained recognition during a convention in Houston the previous year, where every participant received a copy of the sacred scripture.

The editor recalls that he was privileged to be involved in the preparation of these editions. He set out for the Vatican with a copy of the Rig Veda in connection with the World Religious Convention, which was scheduled to be graced and addressed by Pope Francis.

Security protocols at the Vatican require all gifts to be submitted in advance. Upon hearing this, Sreekumar lost hope of personally presenting the Rig Veda to the Pope. However, he was taken by surprise when, after the Pope’s address, an announcement was made stating that ‘each delegate may approach the Pope individually for a blessing’. When his turn came, Sreekumar collected the Rig Veda from the security staff and presented to Pope Francis. He explained that ‘it was the foundational scripture of Hindu philosophy’. The Pope examined the book with great care, smiling warmly, and asked, ‘Is this for me?’

The participants of the World Religious Convention were accorded a welcome at the Vatican. Following his speech, Pope Francis listened to their prayers of audience and engaged in individual conversations with them.

The gifts presented to Pope Francis reflected a remarkable cultural diversity. A replica of the Ashoka Pillar and an Interfaith logo were presented by Swami Sachidananda, President of the Sivagiri Mutt, which was founded by Sreenarayana Gurudev, the legendary Hindu monk from Kerala.

P. Sreekumar told Organiser that the entire experience underscored the shared values of respect, inclusivity, and the power of interfaith dialogue within a global community.

There have been three visits by the Pope to India. In 1964, Pope Paul VI visited Mumbai for the International Eucharistic Congress. Pope John Paul II visited in February 1986, touring various parts of India, including the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, and meeting Indian leaders. He returned for a State Visit from 5-7 November 1999.