The distinguished Mr Tharoor writes with good intent ….
The response must not be one of counter-violence, but a firmer embrace of our neighbours. When one community is threatened, all others must stand as a shield. Coexistence requires justice. Authorities must act swiftly and impartially against hooliganism. Impunity for mobs emboldens division; accountability restores trust. We must reject narratives that paint fellow citizens as “enemies” or “aliens.”
It has become commonplace where “elements” in areas that have a concentration of any particular community begins to act irresponsibly. This must be squashed. The “Kerala Model” works only because people of all faiths—Hindus, Muslims, and Christians—have historically stood up for one another. The same is applicable in Kodagu, where we go one step further – the real “minorities” have also held their place.
To sum it all up – please listen to the video on celebration of Jishu Pujo at The Ramakrishna Mission in Kolkata. – CLN Newsdesk
[A statement I issued yesterday on social media, after my usual round of the churches on Christmas Eve.]
While the festive spirit remained alive in Kerala, it’s dismaying that Christmas 2025 has been marked by an unprecedented level of anxiety, driven by specific local incidents and a rising national trend of intolerance.
A Christmas carol group in Pudussery, Palakkad was assaulted, allegedly by a supposed BJP worker. The attacker allegedly beat the participants and destroyed their musical instruments. This attack on a secular tradition shocked the state. The anxiety in Kerala was compounded by reports from other states, including the vandalism of a Santa Claus effigy in a Raipur (Chhattisgarh) mall, a blind Christian girl assaulted in Jabalpur and an attempt to disrupt prayers in a church in Uttar Pradesh. I was sad to hear Archbishop Netto lament during Midnight Mass that the Christian community in India is celebrating Christmas 2025 amidst “fear and anxiety,” warning that the violence seen in Manipur and North India is no longer distant but is knocking on Kerala’s doors. Earlier Cardinal Cleemis expressed deep pain over the “mysterious silence” of authorities regarding the rising attacks. He questioned why the constitutional right to practice one’s faith is being challenged so openly. I join him in urging the government to break its silence. In his words, the protection of citizens is not a favour but a duty. He emphasised that the “New India” should not be one where communities live in fear of what might happen during their prayers. In the shadow of these events and the warnings from church fathers, the message for society must be one of alertness and unity.
Coexistence is not a passive state; it is an active choice to protect your neighbour’s peace. When a carol group is attacked, it is not just a Christian issue — it is an assault on all of us & the shared culture of Kerala. Peace cannot survive if the majority remains silent spectators to the bullying of a minority. The “Kerala Model” works only because people of all faiths—Hindus, Muslims, and Christians—have historically stood up for one another. That is why I am speaking out this Christmas. The core message of Christmas is the announcement of “peace on earth to people of goodwill.” It is a festival that transcends boundaries, inviting everyone to share in joy, charity, and hope. Violence and intimidation have no place in a civilised society, and certainly not in the vibrant tapestry of India.
Christianity in Kerala is two millennia old and our state’s identity is built on centuries of inter-religious coexistence. The attack on a carol group is an attack on this shared heritage. The response must not be one of counter-violence, but a firmer embrace of our neighbours. When one community is threatened, all others must stand as a shield. Coexistence requires justice. Authorities must act swiftly and impartially against hooliganism. Impunity for mobs emboldens division; accountability restores trust. We must reject narratives that paint fellow citizens as “enemies” or “aliens.” The Christian community in India has contributed immensely to education, healthcare, and social service for everyone, regardless of faith. This legacy deserves respect, not hostility.
True peace is not the absence of tension, but the presence of justice. Let this Christmas be a reminder to speak up for the marginalised and to practice the difficult discipline of love. Even in the face of intolerance, bigotry & hostility. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Let us build a Kerala where no child is afraid to sing a carol, and no believer fears to bow their head in prayer. May the light of Christmas shine on all.
Dr Shashi Tharoor, M.P.
Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram, Lok Sabha
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs
Founder & former Chairman, All-India Professionals’ Congress
It is important to understand why people and communities behave the way they do and take steps to ensure that the “balance” is maintained. Sometimes it is a delicate equilibrium that needs to be carefully nurtured.
Look what happens I. The IK where certain religious groups dominance results in a change in culture – Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and for that matter many suburbs of London.
It’s the same in Kerala and for that matter in the USA. Greeks, Russians, Scandinavians, Indians, Italians and many more clusters tend to live in the same areas. Quite naturally their background and culture begins to show.
It’s the same in Kodagu – the drastic change in demographics is reflected in the palpable change in the number of places of worship. Politics and their votebank tactics only complicate the matter and then things begin to get out of control.
A very practical approach would be to maintain the balance of new migrants so that the “mix” does not change. And even when it does, society at large should take consultative steps with opinion leaders to ensure that the cultural ethos of the place – in this instance Kodagu, does not change. This is CRITICAL so that “extreme” elements do not stir up unnecessary emotions and disturb the hard earned peace that was carefully maintained over centuries.
When you’ve lived long enough,
you realize the best things in life
were never meant to be wrapped in paper or tied with bows.
What we truly wish for at Christmas
can’t be found under a tree.
It’s found in quiet mornings,
in shared cups of warmth,
in the comfort of knowing
the people you love are safe and well.
A peaceful home is a priceless gift.
A healthy family is a blessing beyond measure.
And a gentle new year…
that’s hope whispering softly to the heart.
These are the things that don’t shine loudly,
but glow steadily.
They don’t sparkle for a moment—
they last.
May this season remind us
that happiness isn’t about more things,
but fewer worries.
Not louder celebrations,
but calmer hearts.
A home filled with warmth & peace,
and a new year that treats you kindly,
step by gentle step.
A few unfortunate incidents should not overshadow the larger picture. Religion becomes a cause of conflict only when taken beyond personal boundaries. Faith should remain within one’s home, while society must function as one collective.
All prophets were truly understood only after their lifetime. Imagine life before prophets, people would have lived in peace. Mutual respect and coexistence are the need of the hour.
Sagar is advocating the right approach:
There are many paths to salvation, as all of them are human opinions at the end of the day.
The article by Tharoor is absolutely right as all men are born equal and have the right to practice their religion….. peacefully.
In the words of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa – There are as many paths that salvation as there are opinions. it is important to respect existing, well established and practiced ideologies that have evolved over the years and stood the test of time.
With specific reference to Coorg, Puthari was a festival that was truly enjoyed by everyone residing in the district. At individual plantations, the farmhands were given utmost importance and when clothes were stitched, there was no distinction of the cloth that was sourced for all. The same was with food and drinks.
There was a time when Puthari was the main season for Government holidays and there educational institutions and others followed suit. This has sadly changed – post the merger with then Mysore State, Dussehra has quietly usurped Puthari’s place as the pre-eminent festival. And there are further rumblings with the stark demographic changes in the population over the past few decades. Kodagu’s unique identity, like many other smaller places and communities should be preserved, as it has been for several hundreds of years. It is important that relatively new immigrants respect these tried and tested practices and evolution of culture.
If the intent of this secular nation is to maintain diversity in its truest form, it is best that long reigning traditions continue. It is good to see other communities celebrating Puthari even now.
So when we were at school, nobody made any distinction based on religion – we celebrated all festivals with equal vigour with participation by all. It was the same in college. Over time this has unfortunately changed. Wish it hadn’t.
Perhaps vote banks and politics go hand in hand, bringing religion into the picture.
When celebrations are constantly viewed through the lens of fear and division, we lose the “moment”, spirit, joy, sense of community and shared humanity.
At another level, dissent should never be met with intimidation or violence and peace can exist only where justice and the rule of law are upheld. Conversations like these are necessary if we are to reclaim both our festivals and our carefully curated freedom. When fear replaces freedom and violence replaces dialogue, society loses its moral compass.
Kerala’s long tradition of inter-faith coexistence has been central to its social fabric. Any act that disrupts this harmony affects society as a whole, not just a single community. Ensuring peace requires vigilance, dialogue, and the consistent enforcement of law and order. As Christmas conveys a universal message of goodwill and compassion, this moment calls for collective responsibility to uphold mutual respect and ensure that all citizens can practice their faith without fear.
It’s so sad that every event, every festival is looked at through a religious/communal lens by fundamentalists and bigots these days. The joys of celebration are robbed by the lurking fear of dissent and unexpected violence by narrow-minded, dyed-in-the-wool extremists. They have made their intolerance and threats of violence the new normal which our politicians seem to accept by their own tolerance or negligence of the emerging dangerous issue
Fantastic article indeed. Loved the sentence TRUE PEACE IS NOT ABSENCE OF TENSION BUT PRESENCE OF JUSTICE. How very true. A nation is respected only if LAW PREVAILS and CITIZENS HAVE FAITH IN THEIR LAW