Catholic Priest Attending RSS Event in Pala Sparks Controversy

Speedy Summary

• A priest from the Pala diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala,Father George Nellikunnu Cherivu Purayidom,participated in shankholi 2025,a student summit organized by RSS units on August 15.
• The event was hosted jointly by RSS units from Poonjar, Meenachil, and Ramapuram on Independence Day.
• Father Purayidom spoke about india’s spiritual heritage and freedom struggle, urging youth to strive for global recognition through institution and technology.
• the keynote address was delivered by Jigi Mash, vice-president of Desheeya Adhyapaka Parishat State.
• Fr. Purayidom clarified that his participation was based on an invitation tied to Independence Day celebrations and with knowledge of Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt; he urged people not to misinterpret his presence at the event.
• The Catholic Church in Kerala is reportedly critical of Fr. Purayidom’s attendance amidst increasing concerns over attacks against Christians allegedly by Sangh Parivar activists in states like Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
• Vicar General Fr. Jhoseph Thadathil emphasized that the diocese had no connection with the RSS event, stating it does not engage with political organizations.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The involvement of Father George Nellikunnu Cherivu Purayidom at an RSS-organized event has sparked discussions within both religious and social spheres. While his clarification highlights that participation was centered around celebrating India’s Independence Day rather than endorsing any political ideology, this comes during a sensitive period for Christian communities due to reported violence against them allegedly involving Sangh-affiliated groups.

This incident underscores evolving dynamics between religious leaderships and socio-political forces in India. While individual participation may reflect personal or local-level engagements beyond conventional boundaries, such interactions can carry perceptions with broader implications-both within faith-based communities debating internal solidarity or external associations as well as among secular audiences interpreting interfaith coexistence trends nationwide. Maintaining dialog amidst diversity is key to fostering mutual understanding while protecting constitutional values like free association without fear or bias.

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