What The Manufactured Controversy Over Suresh Gopi's 'Non-Believers' Remark Says About Kerala

A recent speech by Suresh Gopi in a Maha Shivaratri event courted much controversy in Kerala, and is symptomatic of a larger malaise in the state.

The actor, who is a former Rajya Sabha MP from the BJP, was speaking at the Vennala Thaikkatu Temple in Kochi.

When speaking about 'his love for all mankind', Gopi stated he had “no love for atheists”. He went on to state that he would pray 'for the complete destruction of those who desire to interfere in the traditions and beliefs of believers'.

As is the case with many a speech by a BJP leader (especially in Kerala), his words were taken out of context to imply that he wanted the destruction of all non-believers.

At the centre of a controversy concocted the Malayalam media, Gopi issued a clarification:

The context of Suresh Gopi’s remarks was clearly the Sabarimala Issue that embroiled the state in 2018/19.

The words were clearly intended as a politically coloured remark about the CPM Government’s insistence on the implementation of the Supreme Court's judgement which went against the will of the majority community.

In his speech, Gopi clearly noted that those who were not believers were welcome to have their own path, and not interfere with the tradition and culture of the believers—a statement carefully removed from the videos that went viral on social media. 

This is not the first time Suresh Gopi has had to face vicious attacks on his character and speeches.

The actor, who has earned substantial goodwill for his philanthropic activities and his ability to dish out “mass” dialogues at the media, has been vilified in the past too. Once, out all things, for a Vishu kaineetam (Offering money to a younger person on the occasion of Vishu).

When the recipients of the kaineetam touched his feet, it irked the online Communists. Earlier in 2021, even E. Sreedharan was attacked online when his feet were washed or touched as he went on campaigning. 

This pattern of vilification and online attacks seem exclusively reserved for the majority culture and tradition in Kerala. While Suresh Gopi is attacked for his supposed animosity towards atheists, the clarion call of other religions that call for the glorification of only one god and the denial of all else is accepted as normal.

The many speeches and theological discourses by both the minority communities in Kerala about the irredeemability of the polytheist or the kafir is intrinsically linked to 'freedom of speech and religion'. The hypocrisy and the derision faced by those representing even the slightest pushback to the communist establishment is overwhelming. The critical lens faces only one way.

This represents a deep, pervasive rot in the political culture of the state. The treatment of many issues in public discourse, media or social media has remained far from objective, and toxicity has only increased in the past few years.

The soft-pedalling on the issue of radicalism, gold-smuggling and the denial of rapid demographic change are all symptoms of a state that cannot digest reality. Kerala’s politics is stuck in the paradigm of “secularism v. communism” while its neighbours leave it far behind in terms of development. 

The state’s treasury is in an abysmal condition while the people of the state face a completely unnecessary cess on petrol and diesel. The state government’s hollow efforts to attract investment stands exposed as many old establishments have become “new” establishments when licenses are renewed.

Gender justice takes a left turn when it reaches the borders of Islamic sensibility, and very few among the “intelligentsia” care to call it out. Keralites would be well-advised to take a long hard look at their state before claiming to be a “model state” high on the delusions of exceptionalism.