Hameed Chendamangalloor, social critic, political analyst, and writer known for his strong opposition to religious fundamentalism, shares his insights on the current political landscape in Kerala. Here are excerpts from an interview:
Q: What are the key factors shaping the contemporary political landscape in Kerala, especially when religion and religious bodies are sprouting into Kerala society?
For a considerable period, religious bodies and casteist organisations have been wielding significant influence in Kerala politics. Surprisingly, even the Left parties, known for their progressive stance, have succumbed to the pressures of religious landlords. This trend became particularly notorious during the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government’s tenure. Unfortunately, the submission of secular political parties to religious landlordism continues to grow stronger each day. Instead of approaching issues from a secular standpoint, Kerala’s political parties are increasingly adopting a religio-communal perspective. A prime example of this shift is the sabotage of the proposal for gender-neutral uniforms and the hindrance of the Kudumbashree campaign for gender equality by the present Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
