Raj Bhavan; not an RSS office
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Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar’s repeated use of a symbol associated with the RSS, an organization that endorses extreme Hindutva ideologies, during official functions not only becomes a secular nation but also undermines the dignity of the Governor’s constitutional position. The role of a Governor is a constitutional one. While individuals may hold personal political views or religious beliefs, the Governor is expected to uphold and represent the constitutional values of the country in an official capacity. However, Kerala is increasingly witnessing a scenario where the Governor appears to be misusing his constitutional post to act as a promoter of the RSS. The repeated display of the image of ‘Bharat Mata’ holding a saffron flag at every official event held in his official residence, raises serious questions about the Governor’s political neutrality and commitment to the Constitution. In a state with a strong legacy of social reform and religious tolerance, any attempt to give official status to a symbol associated with Hindutva nationalism is a betrayal of the spirit of the Constitution. The controversy began to escalate when, during the recent Environment Day celebrations, Raj Bhavan insisted on the lamp lighting to be in front of this image, prompting Agriculture Minister P. Prasad to boycott the event. The situation further intensified when the Governor attempted to repeat the same act at a Scouts and Guides program organized by the Department of General Education, leading Minister for Education V. Sivankutty to publicly protest and walk out of the event in response. Governor Rajendra Arlekar defiantly declared at the venue itself that there would be no reconsideration of removing the controversial image from Raj Bhavan events.
Incidents of violence at Kerala University have only intensified fears that the Sangh Parivar is actively working to escalate the issue in the public sphere as well. A concerning question is raised by the governor's insistence on promoting something that is not sanctioned by law and has no genuine link to India's national identity: what is the point of this defiance if not to undermine the state's legacy of social harmony and peaceful coexistence? The image of Bharat Mata displayed at Raj Bhavan by the Governor is distinctly different from the concept that emerged through the 1896 song Vande Mataram and gained widespread acceptance during the national freedom struggle. Instead of representing the map of India, the image reflects the RSS’s interpretation of the nation. It portrays a saffron-clad female figure, imagined as a Hindu goddess, holding a sword and a saffron flag—symbols that carry religious significance. As a result, the image becomes a representation of Hindutva ideology rather than an inclusive national symbol. This is precisely why questions were raised about this image during the early days of the RSS’s formation and consciously excluded from mainstream national movements. The use of the official symbol of the RSS, a Hindutva organization, in government functions contributes significantly to promoting divisiveness and inciting hostility among the public. More critically, the attempt to grant official acceptance to the RSS’s culturally uniform symbol, which rejects India’s religious and social diversity, is part of a broader effort to undermine the core values of the Constitution.
What is unfolding in Kerala, with Raj Bhavan at the centre, appears to be a calculated strategy to shame, marginalize, and label as anti-national those religious and political groups that refuse to submit to the image-worship of the RSS’s Bharat Mata. Allowing this to continue will amount to a direct blow to Kerala’s legacy of social harmony and communal coexistence. The role of a Governor is a constitutionally defined and limited one, and Arlekar must recognize those boundaries. His duty as Governor is not to serve as a promoter of the RSS but to uphold and safeguard the Constitution. This position is not meant to be used for advancing personal ideological beliefs either, rather it has the responsibility of acting as a guardian of democracy. Every official act carried out by a state representative must align with the principles of secularism and democratic values. If the official conduct of a constitutional authority promotes division and conflict, it becomes the responsibility of the state to resist and overcome such actions. Even if he has long-standing ties with the RSS, it does not entitle the Governor to turn Raj Bhavan into an ideological space of the Sangh. The government's decision to prohibit the display of non-official symbols at official events is, therefore, a commendable and necessary step. It reinforces the importance of maintaining the neutrality and dignity of state functions. The support expressed by the opposition on this matter also highlights a strong political solidarity in defending secularism. Democratic Kerala is collectively reminding the Governor—whose role is to act as the voice of the Constitution—that Raj Bhavan cannot be turned into a platform for the Sangh Parivar’s ideological agenda.
