On December 20, 2025, two major events in South India—one in Kerala and another in Tamil Nadu—brought renewed attention to the ongoing debate over secularism, constitutional values, and the future of cultural harmony in India. As political leaders, cultural icons, and citizens gathered in Kochi and Tirunelveli, the air was thick with both celebration and concern. The backdrop? A country grappling with questions about its secular fabric, the rights of minorities, and the centralization of political power.
In Kochi, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the first-ever Indian Cultural Congress (ICC) at the historic Rajendra Maidan. Organized by the state’s department of culture, the event marked what Vijayan described as a "new and necessary experience." According to The New Indian Express, the Congress was conceived as a national congregation aimed at defending the country’s constitutional and democratic foundations through cultural means. "The current Indian situation compels us to convene such a congress," Vijayan declared, noting that while science and history conclaves are common, a large-scale national gathering focused solely on culture was unprecedented.
Vijayan’s speech was a clarion call for "strong cultural resistance" to what he sees as a growing threat: communal forces undermining India’s secular ethos. He warned, "Forces that reject constitutional values are steadily gaining strength in the country and are actively working to destroy the secular foundations of Indian culture, which historically ensured peaceful coexistence among people following diverse ways of life." The chief minister didn’t mince words when discussing the national political landscape, citing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the "One Nation, One Election" proposal as deliberate moves to weaken federalism and concentrate power in the hands of a few. "Kerala—with its long tradition of secularism and resistance to communalism—was a fitting venue for the initiative," he emphasized.
Echoing these sentiments, Kerala’s Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian spoke of the Congress as a platform to "provide the energy and space to counter the growing atmosphere of communalism and intolerance." The Congress wasn’t all politics, however. A heartfelt condolence resolution was passed at the inaugural venue for the late filmmaker, screenwriter, and actor Sreenivasan, described by Cherian as a "multifaceted talent who gave deeper meaning to cinema," using humor not just for entertainment but to "provoke thought and shape the social consciousness of Malayalis."
Meanwhile, the ICC’s book fair at Maharaja’s College, running daily from 9:30 am to 8 pm until December 24, showcased a rich collection of titles from both government and private publishers, including Kerala Bhasha Institute, Kerala Sahitya Akademi, and National Book Trust India. The fair was designed not just as a marketplace for books, but as a celebration of India’s literary diversity—a fitting complement to the Congress’s broader mission.
While Kerala was hosting a congregation for cultural resistance, in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin was presiding over a Christmas celebration that quickly became a platform for defending secularism and minority rights. Addressing the crowd, Stalin leveled strong accusations at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming the party "hates the very idea of secularism and is desperate to have it removed from the Constitution." According to The Hindu, Stalin’s remarks were direct: "As far as the BJP at the Centre is concerned, the very word secularism is bitter for them like the neem fruit. They are desperate to remove it from the Constitution itself."
Stalin’s speech was a blend of historical reflection and political critique. He highlighted the pioneering work of Christian missionary Sarah Tucker, who advanced women’s education in southern Tamil Nadu during the early 19th century. "It is the institutions like Sarah Tucker College that serve as the foundation for a large number of women getting educated in southern Tamil Nadu," he said, using the past to underline the value of communal harmony and cross-cultural cooperation.
Christmas, Stalin argued, is a festival that should promote "faith, compassion, peace and joy." He called on Hindus, Muslims, and Christians to "live like brothers," insisting that such gatherings must reinforce communal harmony. Asserting the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party’s commitment to minority welfare, he said, "Our Dravidian model regime is being run as a testament to the vision of Jesus, who said that everyone should have everything they need." Stalin went on to detail his government’s initiatives: enhanced subsidies for the Jerusalem pilgrimage, the refurbishment of 16 churches, renovation of ancient churches, and the construction of new cemeteries in six districts—all carried out, he insisted, "without any discrimination on grounds of religion."
Stalin also pointed to a recent government order ensuring that teacher selection committees in minority educational institutions now include only representatives of those respective institutions—a move he said he signed just before the Christmas event. "The people of Tamil Nadu fully support his regime and this is irritating some people," Stalin claimed, suggesting that outside forces were seeking to disturb the state’s peace and unity. "Many are thinking about disturbing peace in Tamil Nadu; they think of dividing the people living in harmony and turning them into enemies," he alleged.
The chief minister’s rhetoric sharpened as he accused the BJP of aiming to "destroy the nation's diversity and create an authoritarian future of one religion, one language, one culture, one election, one party and one leader." He claimed that the DMK and the people of Tamil Nadu have the "strength to oppose and scuttle the BJP's nefarious designs." On the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, Stalin reiterated his opposition, stating, "When they brought the Citizenship Amendment Act, we strongly opposed it and staged protests. However, the AIADMK supported it." He also referenced ongoing work on the SIPCOT Industrial Park (SIR), vowing to defeat any attempts by the BJP to "prevent us from voting."
The Christmas event, held under the banner of "Manithaneya Magathuva Christumas Peruvizha 2025," was organized by the Christuva Nallenna Iyakkam and led by DMK legislator S Inigo Irudayaraj, who has hosted similar celebrations for 15 years. Stalin commended Irudayaraj’s commitment to unity and equality, saying the legislator was "inspired by the thought that everyone should be united and love one another."
Both the Indian Cultural Congress in Kochi and the Christmas celebration in Tirunelveli were more than mere ceremonial gatherings—they were battlegrounds for the soul of Indian democracy. Leaders used these platforms to challenge what they view as a creeping centralization of power and an erosion of secular values. Their words reflected a broader anxiety about the future, but also a determination to resist forces that, in their view, threaten the pluralistic foundation of the nation.
As the book fair in Kochi continues and Christmas festivities ripple through Tamil Nadu, the underlying message is clear: the debate over secularism, minority rights, and the meaning of cultural unity in India is far from settled. The events of December 20, 2025, serve as a vivid reminder that, for many, the fight to safeguard the Constitution and the spirit of coexistence is not just a political struggle—it’s a cultural one, waged in the hearts, minds, and public squares of the nation.
