Kerala’s Secular Identity

✒ T. K. Ashraf

2 October 2026, 0 21 Rabi al-Thani 1448 AH

A new government has assumed office in our state. There are several crucial matters that those who voted, the elected representatives, and those who voted against them must all pay attention to and reflect upon.

Keep Hatred-Mongers in Check

Power is a responsibility, and it must be discharged with precision. Ensuring a social atmosphere free of malice in Kerala is an imperative duty of rulers at all times. Our country is not inhabited by a single religious community alone; ours is a pluralistic society. Therefore, wherever rhetoric, discussions, and comments arise that sow mutual malice and hatred, giving sinister insinuations like "he is problematic" or "there will be trouble if they come to power",the government must possess the willpower to eliminate this ruthlessly. What these people are doing in a nation where all religious communities live together harmoniously is akin to someone secretly pouring poison at night into a water body thriving with fish.

Every day, some individuals continue to spew poison through channels and public statements. It is the responsibility of those in power to push aside the hands that mix such poison.

Injustice to None

Justice must be shown toward all sections of people. Injustice should never be meted out to any particular community. Under no circumstances should injustice be committed against an individual or a group simply out of hatred or enmity toward them.

Maintain a Connection with the People

Maintaining a bond with the public is crucial. Both those who won and those who lost are individuals who visited every home, shook hands, and sought votes. It is those very people who elected them. When those poor souls approach public representatives with any need, representatives must be able to face them and hold their hands. That is where the true success of a public representative lies. If one adopts the attitude of "my purpose has been served, so why bother about them anymore?", it is a betrayal of the people. The public will surely pay it back through their votes. Whether in power or not, it is vital that public representatives remain accessible to the people at their call.

Do Not Invite Controversies

The practice of surrendering everything to controversy and only seeking a resolution at the end is never right. Proper groundwork must be done; controversies should not be invited. Clear policies for each issue are crucial. Opposing something is easy, but governing well and moving forward is an arduous task. That requires a sense of reality and meticulous studies. It is vital that legislation and policies are formulated with the grassroots populace in mind.

A Public Representative Is Not an Emperor

The public does not look for an emperor to rule over them; they expect servants who find solutions to their problems. What is required is not ruling over the people, but understanding their needs and serving them accordingly. The King of Saudi Arabia is addressed as 'Khadim al-Haramayn' (Servant of the Two Holy Mosques), and that is the title by which they prefer to be known. This reflects a fundamental perspective.

Victory of Secular Values

The victory in the Kerala Legislative Assembly election is not the narrow triumph of any single group; rather, it is the victory of the land's secular values. We must recognize that this is the result of diverse communities joining hands with mutual trust and affection.

That voters elected Christian representatives from Muslim-majority areas, Muslim representatives from Christian-majority regions, and Hindu representatives from constituencies where minorities form the majority stands as proof of this. We should view these representatives not as people belonging to any single religion, but as the common secular leaders of our land.

Not Representatives of a Religion

Democratically conscious Keralites do not vote based on religion or caste. Those who do so constitute a very small minority. What people look for is who can lead everyone together toward a peaceful life and the development of the land. Everyone has cast their vote with the desire to foster a social atmosphere where all religious communities can live peacefully and cooperatively in accordance with their faith. Those in power must pay heed to this as well.

We must view the winning individuals and parties in a secular light. If a public representative with a Christian name reaches the Legislative Assembly and fulfills a constitutionally valid need for the community he belongs to, allegations arise claiming he provided something undue exclusively for Christians or engaged in appeasement. Similarly, if a Muslim representative secures a constitutional right for the people he represents, creating a narrative that he is securing undue benefits for the Muslim community is also wrong. Likewise, if a Hindu representative secures something deserved for his community, he should not be criticized for it.

Is a Muslim a Venomous Cobra?

As soon as the recent election results were declared, we saw certain cynics step forward with statements claiming that a particular portfolio should not be given because someone is Muslim, that it wouldn't be right for a Muslim to handle that department, or that a Muslim is unfit to become Chief Minister.

Are Muslims venomous cobras? They are a peace-loving community living in this country. They are the descendants of a generation that gave their blood and sweat for India’s independence. Muslims have the same rights here as everyone else.

However, due to various factors, they have been pushed into backwardness in society. It is to address this backwardness that the government introduced reservation, which is entirely constitutional and falls under the rights granted to minorities.

Rulers have a responsibility to secure for each community what it constitutionally deserves. Yet, as this is being done, there are those who cry out that benefits are being showered on Muslims, or that only Hindus are being considered, or that everything is being given to Christians attempting to foster mutual alienation and hatred among religious communities.

In that, some media outlets attempt to derive immense joy. They must cease such malicious efforts and stand with reality. Misleading narratives spread through social media must also end, and we ought to discourage such writings.

The tendency to brand constitutional rights as 'appeasement' whenever they are granted to any section of society must change. The agenda of certain groups to pressure rulers right from the outset by building specific narratives to deny even the legitimate rights deserved by the Muslim community must be recognized early on and resisted. The government must be able to treat everyone equally and deliver what is rightfully due. May everyone, including community leaders, remain conscious of their immense responsibility to safeguard the unity and peace of this land.