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New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Bharat Mata row: Kerala Cabinet urges governor to use only national flag, symbol for Raj Bhavan events
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as Governor Rajendra Arlekar defended the display of the image of Bharat Mata carrying a saffron flag in events attended by him, the state cabinet has urged him to ensure that nothing other than the national flag and national symbol are displayed during official events conducted at the Raj Bhavan. Reminding the governor that displaying any other flag or symbol amounted to insulting the national flag and symbol, the cabinet urged him to issue the necessary directions to Raj Bhavan officials. In a letter to the governor, the state cabinet touched upon the circumstances leading to the adoption of the national flag and national symbol and the Constituent Assembly debates and a resolution on what the national flag should embody. The cabinet referred to the speeches made by Jawaharlal Nehru and Sarojini Naidu during the Constituent Assembly debates on the national flag. While Nehru had said that there were no communal or social considerations behind adoption of the tricolour as the national flag, Naidu had maintained that only the national flag should represent the country in public places or official programmes. Notably, the governor's letter to the chief minister on the issue had also mentioned the Constituent Assembly debates. 'When the Constituent Assembly adopted Vande Mataram as the National Song on January 24, 1950, the idea of Mother India received a constitutional mandate. The concept of Bharat Mata or Bharathamba evolved much before Independence and lives in the hearts of every Indian,' the governor had told the CM. Meanwhile, the controversy over the display of the image refused to die down. In the wake of the Raj Bhavan seeking a report on the incident, the VC has demanded an explanation from the registrar. On Thursday, the registrar urged the police to lodge a case against the organisers for continuing with the event even after permission for it was denied.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
The image of Bharathamba is not the problem. The Bharat Mata all of India must revere is the Constitution
In June 2025, Kerala found itself at the heart of a constitutional and cultural storm — one that began not with a legislative action or executive order, but with a portrait. A saffron-draped figure of Bharathamba mounted on a lion, holding aloft a saffron flag, suddenly took centre stage in the official events at the Raj Bhavan under Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar. The Governor's insistence on placing this image on the dais at public events, including those jointly hosted with the state government, ignited a wave of protest, culminating in boycotts and walkouts by ministers, students, and civil society groups. While it may appear to be a harmless patriotic gesture, the symbolism tells a different story. The image, strongly associated with the Sangh Parivar's ideological vision, is not recognised by the Constitution, nor does it command consensual national acknowledgement. Its insertion into state functions raises uncomfortable questions: Can a constitutional functionary impose cultural-religious iconography upon a secular, plural polity? Can symbolism trump constitutionalism? We are witnessing the constitutionalisation of ideology through imagery — an attempt to replace civic nationalism with cultural majoritarianism. It must be viewed as emblematic of a deeper ideological project, as a symbolic act of ideological colonisation, with far-reaching implications for federalism, secularism, and democratic governance. Governor's role The role of the Governor was clearly defined by the makers of the Constitution. Article 163 of the Constitution states, 'There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions…' Ambedkar, during Constituent Assembly debates, while referring to the Governor's position as 'ornamental', reiterated it and said, 'He has no functions which he can discharge by himself… he is required to follow the advice of his Ministry in all matters.' The Supreme Court, in landmark decisions such as Shamsher Singh v State of Punjab (1974) reaffirmed that the Governor is a titular head and not an independent executive authority, but a constitutional functionary bound by the democratic mandate of the people. Yet, in recent years, particularly under the BJP-led Centre, Raj Bhavans have increasingly transformed into ideological outposts of the Centre, especially in Opposition-ruled states. From stalling bills to summoning VCs and now dictating the aesthetics of public functions, Governors have been acting more as federal agents than custodians of the Constitution. This centralising trend runs contrary to the federal spirit upheld by the SC in SR Bommai (1994), a case which cautioned against the misuse of Article 356 to destabilise state governments. More recently, in the Tamil Nadu case, the Court reasserted that Governors cannot indefinitely withhold assent to state legislation. Kerala's recent Governors have courted controversy for their confrontations with the elected government, but the insistence on a particular religious-cultural symbol, the portrait in this case, marks an escalation. Bharathamba: From allegory to ideology The image of Bharat Mata has its roots in nationalist art from the early 20th century. One of the earliest depictions, by Bengali artist Abanindranath Tagore in 1905, presented a serene, saffron-clad woman offering food, clothing, and learning, symbolising benevolence and motherly care rather than militaristic fervour. There was no lion by her side, no saffron flag, and nothing resembling a goddess. She stood as an allegorical figure, not a divine icon demanding worship. Tagore's portrayal reflected the Swadeshi movement's ideals. It was inclusive, aiming to unify people across religious and regional identities without leaning into sectarian imagery. In one curious pre-Independence instance, the Swadeshi Cotton Mills ran an advertisement showing Bharat Mata (without the current saffron flag or lion) evocatively stretching from Burma to Afghanistan. This image — fluid, commercial, and imaginative —underscores how the portrait was never a settled or statutorily recognised emblem. However, the RSS and other affiliates of the Sangh Parivar appropriated the symbol in later decades, reinterpreting Bharat Mata in more overtly religious and martial tones — sword-bearing, a lion by her side, a saffron flag in her hand, and the subcontinent often depicted behind her, adorned with saffron regalia in the conventional Hindutva framework. The portrait now at the centre of the Kerala controversy reflects that later iteration, not Tagore's. Legal and constitutional (in)validity Notably, there is no constitutional or statutory recognition of any Bharat Mata image. Nowhere is such an image mentioned — let alone mandated — for public or state functions. By attempting to impose it, the Governor disregards constitutional propriety and encroaches upon the religious and ideological diversity of the nation. The Constitution and other statutes confer official status only on the national flag, the Constitution, government emblems, the national anthem, etc. These are codified in the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. There is no statute or constitutional provision that codifies the Bharatamba portrait as a state symbol. Any attempt to enforce unofficial symbols on official platforms runs contrary to the secular and pluralistic ethos of our nation. In Bijoe Emmanuel & Ors v State of Kerala & Ors (1986), the SC protected three Jehovah's Witnesses students from being expelled for refusing to sing even the national anthem, observing that 'the real test of a true democracy is the ability of even an insignificant minority to find its identity under the country's Constitution.' When a Governor promotes one religion-tinged ideology over others, it undermines the secularism and federal balance protected under the 'basic structure doctrine'. A larger political design Kerala has long withstood the tides of communal politics. With high human development indices, strong civil society movements, communal harmony, and a politically aware electorate, the state has resisted the so-called saffron wave more effectively than most Indian states. It defies homogenising agendas based on religious chauvinism. But in recent years, the Sangh Parivar has tested a new strategy of deliberate provocation — introducing controversial themes to divide public opinion. It is now essential to distinguish legitimate patriotism from weaponised ultra-nationalism. The former unites; the latter divides. The image of Bharathamba is not the problem. The problem lies in its enforced singularity, its ideological baggage, and its displacing of democratic, constitutional plurality. The real Mata that all of India must revere is the Constitution, which guarantees equality, secularism, and dignity to all its children. The writer is a CPI (M) Rajya Sabha Member. With inputs from Aneesh Babu, a research associate
