CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby, GCDA Chairman K. Chandran Pillai, literary critic M.K. Sanoo, Senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan, and Poet P.N. Gopikrishnan during the release of the Malayalam translation of Being Muslim in Hindu India by Ziya Us Salam in Kochi on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] general secretary M.A. Baby has observed that while politically defeating the fascist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-controlled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is important, even more important is defeating their fake cultural nationalism project through which they are invading people’s minds.
He was speaking after releasing the Malayalam translation of the book, Being Muslim in Hindu India written by Ziya Us Salam, Associate Editor of The Hindu, here on Saturday (June 14, 2025).
“What is needed parallel to a political fight is a cultural fight by democratic and secular forces to detoxify people’s minds of fascist ideals. Otherwise, even if the BJP is electorally defeated in the future, the RSS will continue to work in Indian society,” Mr. Baby said.
“The electoral setback suffered by the BJP in last year’s general elections is a lesson that attempts by the Modi-led neo-fascist, majoritarian forces to set up a Hindu State with the backing of the corporate and the neo-rich can be effectively resisted by democratic and secular forces, if they so desire. However, whether the political parties, which are supposed to learn lessons from that, are acting accordingly remains a question,” he said.
Mr. Baby said that Modi, whose party lost its majority in the last general elections and now relies on two crutches — the Janata Dal (United) and the Telugu Desam Party — is trying to win back popular support by politically exploiting the post-Pahalgam scenario, just as he did before the 2019 general elections.
He bemoaned the “othering” based on religion and caste in the country, citing the denial of passage to Mr. Salam over a mere misspelling in his air ticket as an example. Mr. Salam was unable to attend the function.
Senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan and poet P.N. Gopikrishnan spoke at the seminar on ‘In Defence of Secularism.’
Trade union activist C.B. Venugopal translated the book, which was published by Samooh Books. Greater Cochin Development Authority Chairman K. Chandran Pillai presided. Critic M.K. Sanoo was present. Samooh president Joby John welcomed the gathering, and R. Minipriya, vice-president, delivered vote of thanks.
Published – June 14, 2025 09:15 pm IST
