The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Modernity seldom reflected in middle class thinking in Kerala, says K.N. Panikkar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 10, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Modernity seldom reflected in middle class thinking in Kerala, says K.N. Panikkar

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The modernity and sophistication visibly exuded by the middle class of Kerala is seldom reflected in their outlook and thinking, historian and vice-chairman, Higher Education Council, K.N. Panikkar said on Friday.

He made this observation in connection with a talk on the ‘Challenges faced by secularism and democracy in the light of the liberation struggle of 1959’ organised by the Kerala University Union in the city.

Religion has pervaded the public sphere with religious leaders trying to ascertain their might and control. Today we are regressing as a society, he said.

Challenges

According to him the mobilisation of people in the name of religion and caste was one of the biggest democratic challenges which the State faced in 1959.

A creative transformation of society is possible only through informed political discussion and not by dividing people along religious lines. Unfortunately, such discussions are not happening in our society today, he said. “Democracy should be based on politics and not on religion or caste. It is time we strengthen the progressive forces in society by moulding the younger generation,” he said.

“Politicians using religion to garner vote is one of the biggest threats to our democracy today,” Mr. Panikkar said.

Referring to the biography of Jawaharlal Nehru written by historian Sarveppalli Gopal, Mr. Panikkar said that Nehru was not at all interested in supporting the liberation struggle; however he was forced to dismiss the democratically elected government of E.M.S. Namboodiripad under the influence of Indira Gandhi. “It was a task which Nehru performed with a great deal of pain and anguish,” said Mr. Panikkar. “The action invoked fear in the minds of liberal minded citizens who believed in the spirit of democracy,” he said.

It was the changes that the E.M.S government initiated in the field of agriculture and education and the fear these reforms instigated in the minds of certain communities that lead to the dismissal of the government, he said.

Chinta Jerome, chairperson, Kerala University Union, presided over the function. The function was also attended by Appu Y., vice-chairman.

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