This is an archive article published on January 1, 2025
On Pinarayi’s remark that Narayana Guru ‘reconstructed’ Sanatana Dharma, BJP’s retort: ‘Will he have courage to…’
Speaking at an event, CM said Guru 'upheld a secular humanistic worldview' and 'any attempt to confine that within the framework of Sanatana Dharma will be an insult to him'
3 min readThiruvananthapuramUpdated: Jan 2, 2025 01:31 AM IST
There is an attempt to depict social reformer Guru as a religious leader and religious sanyasin,” the CM said. (Kerela CM, Left. Sree Narayana Guru, Right) Image Source: X/Wikimedia Commons)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s statement that social reformer Sree Narayana Guru had reconstructed Sanatana Dharma has come under fire from the BJP, which said Vijayan had insulted Hinduism to win “extremist” votes.
Addressing a meeting in connection with the annual pilgrimage to Sivagiri mutt, established by Guru, at Varkala in the district, Vijayan had said on Tuesday that there was an attempt to depict Guru as a proponent of Sanatana Dharma.
“He challenged the Varnashrama system and reconstructed Sanatana Dharma. He upheld a secular humanistic worldview. Any attempt to confine that view within the framework of Sanatana Dharmawill be an insult to Guru. His dharma is one that stands with the times and challenges Varnasharama. How can Narayana Guru, who propagated the concept of ‘One Caste, One Religion, One God’, be an advocate of Sanatana Dharma? There is an attempt to depict social reformer Guru as a religious leader and religious sanyasin,” the CM said.
Senior BJP leader from Kerala and former union minister V Muraleedharan responded, “Vijayan has insulted the entire Sree Narayaneeya community (Hindu Ezhava community, which is traditionally pro-Left). Vijayan is of the view that Sanatana Dharma is despicable. His comment is a continuation of the stand of DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin that Sanatana Dharma has to be eradicated. Will Vijayan have the courage to speak out against any other religion?”
Muraleedharan said the Hindu community has faced the most challenges during Vijayan’s regime. “In the issue of entry of young women to Sabarimala and the Thrissur Pooram fiasco, too, he had tried to challenge the Hindu faith,” he said.
BJP national spokesman Shehzad Poonawalla told a news agency, “The new year has started, but their mindset is the same – to insult the Sanatana. The statement made by the Chief Minister of Kerala is part of a long series of statements made recently. The Left felt the Congress had overtaken them in vote bank politics, and to get back that extremist vote bank, they are making these kinds of abusive insults at the Hindu faith and Sanatana. Will they have the courage to say this against any other religion?”
Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India.
Expertise, Experience, and Authority
Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes:
Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration.
Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules.
Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More
