Lok Bhavan Calendar Features VD Savarkar Alongside Freedom Fighters

Thiruvananthapuram: The newly released New Year calendar by Kerala’s Lok Bhavan has stirred controversy by including an image of Hindu Mahasabha leader VD Savarkar alongside prominent freedom fighters.

Savarkar, who once sought pardon from the British and attempted to secure his release from the Andaman Cellular Jail, is now featured in the calendar alongside leaders of India’s independence movement. Union Minister Suresh Gopi received the calendar from Governor Rajendra Arlekar.

This marks the first time Lok Bhavan has released an official calendar. It includes portraits of freedom fighters as well as notable cultural leaders. Alongside these, the inclusion of Savarkar, a figure historically opposed to India’s constitutional formation, has raised eyebrows. Observers interpret this move as part of ongoing attempts by the BJP to politicise institutions like Lok Bhavan.

Savarkar’s legacy remains contentious. He was known for his staunch Hindutva ideology, multiple apologies to the British during the freedom struggle, and alleged involvement in the Gandhi assassination conspiracy. Despite this, he has been honoured in several public forums by BJP leaders in the past.

The calendar’s release comes at a time when debates over historical narratives in Kerala are intensifying. Critics argue that placing Savarkar alongside universally recognised freedom fighters risks distorting historical context and equating the contributions of those who fought unambiguously for independence with a polarising political figure.