State-controlled Devaswom Boards in Kerala known for inviting individuals known for their anti-Hindu views and criticism of Hindutva, Hindu scriptures and Sanatan Dharma to deliver lectures at temple programmes. In the latest instance, the Congress-controlled Travancore Devaswom Board invited CPM supporter A.G. Oleena, who is known to have repeatedly made remarks against Lord Rama, the Ramayana and Sanatan Dharma, to deliver a lecture on July 23 at the Hanuman Mandir in Thiruvananthapuram. The topic of the lecture is “Rajmatas in Ramayana”.
People wonder how such a person has been invited as a speaker for a Ramayana programme. The move of the government was opposed by VHP and criticised the board’s action.
Oleena is closely associated with the CPM-led Purogamana Kala-Sahithya Sangham (Progressive Arts-Literature Organisation) and she also contested the Local Self-Government Bodies elections held in December 2025.
Another topic of the series of lectures was topic of the July 21 lecture was “Gandhiji’s Ramayana”.
VHP State Working President V.R. Rajasekharan wondered what link Gandhiji has with a Ramayana lecture series.
The Devaswom Board is trying to create a fake and negative narrative. They are practising the proverb, “If you want to kill your dog, accuse him of having rabies.”
Rajasekharan alleged that the Devaswom Board’s aim is to eliminate Sanatan Dharma.
He said the people of Kerala know the political stand of A.G. Oleena. Inviting such a person for a Ramayana lecture is unacceptable, as she has been criticising Lord Rama and Sanatan Dharma. Kerala does not suffer from a dearth of Hindu leaders and spiritual personalities. Yet they are ignored while Oleena has been invited.
The VHP leader alleged that the current Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government has been serving the interests of the erstwhile CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) regime. He demanded that the Devaswom Board withdraw such steps; otherwise, the VHP would launch statewide protests.
He further alleged that both the UDF and LDF, whether in power or in the Opposition, have always tried their level best to hurt the feelings and sentiments of Hindus. The invitation to Oleena, he said, is the latest episode in this series.
