Rise Of Self-Declared 'Sangh Villages' In Kerala: Is New Hindutva Mobilisation A Threat To Plural Ethos? (Image: Representational)
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Despite the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) operating in Kerala for decades, with the highest number of daily RSS units (shakhas) in India relative to its population, the Hindu right wing group has so far failed to convert it into votes. Kerala remains one strong state that defies the BJP waves that are sweeping across the country after each election.
Notably, the Hindu right wing group appears to be shifting their entire strategy as recent developments show a coordinated attempt to change the very fabric of the society. A new trend called ‘Sangh village’ has started to become visible in the state. The RSS network has started to create a separate identity to the visible Hindutva stronghold, shaping everyday community life, culture, and local power structures in the region.
These localized strongholds utilize temple spaces, local welfare work, and caste networks to cement their presence. Notably, these Sangh groups are now making open claims with banners, signboards, politically charged events, and self-declared “Sangh villages. The News Minutes reported.
There are several such pockets coming up in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad districts, Kannur and elsewhere, which critics say might threaten the very secular fabrics of the country. A Muslim man recently opened a gym inside a religious boundary, sparking public anger, with many calling it the “Islamisation” of such spaces. Yet critics ask why there is silence on “Sangh Villages,” which they say could be a bigger threat over time.
Read Also: Kerala HC’s Contempt Case Against Ex-MLA For Alleging Judges’ ‘Sangh Bias’ In FB Post
For Kerala, the rise of self-declared Sangh villages signals a shift from quiet organising to open assertion of Hindu identity in public spaces. The village declare itself as an area with families that adhere to Hindu traditions and beliefs. Many of such Sangh Villages have large red banners stretched across the road, carrying the image of 17th-century Maratha ruler Shivaji and other religious symbols, threatening the plurality.
Notably, many of the households in these villages are being taught that Hindus are being attacked and tortured like never before in the state to reinforce the Sangh group.
