Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan: Art Unites People, Promotes Secularism

Thrissur: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that it is art that brings secularism and democracy into everyday life, and that school arts festivals are among the most effective platforms for nurturing these values. He was speaking while inaugurating the 64th State School Festival in Thrissur.

The Chief Minister said the arts festival strongly resists attempts to confine art within the narrow boundaries of religion and caste. “The fundamental duty of art is to shape good human beings,” he said.

Art, he noted, is a remarkable ability gifted to humanity. It brings joy both to those who create it and to those who experience it. Artists, in essence, create happiness—painters through lines and colours, singers through musical notes, and actors through their bodies, voices, and expressions. Ultimately, all artistic expression aims to create an experience of joy.

Referring to history, the CM said that during the feudal era, art forms were often restricted to certain communities. With the advent of democracy and secularism, however, art became the collective heritage of all. He cited the experiences of legendary Kathakali singer Kalamandalam Hyderali, who faced discrimination while performing. Some orthodox groups believed Kathakali belonged only to Hindus, particularly upper-caste communities, and attempted to bar him.

Since Kathakali was traditionally performed in temples, Hyderali was denied entry into some temples on the grounds that he belonged to another religion. In one instance, while dancers performed inside a temple compound, a section of the wall was broken to allow Hyderali to sing from outside. He later described these painful experiences in his autobiography.

The Chief Minister noted that Hyderali sang devotional Kathakali verses and was himself a deeply devout person. “It is unacceptable in a democratic society to humiliate someone simply because they were born into a different religion,” he said, adding that many temples had also welcomed Hyderali with respect. He recalled Hyderali mentioning how Ustad Bismillah Khan played the shehnai inside the Kashi Vishwanath Temple as an example of India’s inclusive artistic tradition.

“Artists should not be viewed through the lens of religion. They must be seen as artists. Art itself is their religion,” the Chief Minister said.

He also referred to how P Bhaskaran and K Raghavan popularised Mappila songs, demonstrating that art knows no boundaries. Attacks on Christmas carols and the growing tendency to judge artists and characters through religious identities, he said, go against the true purpose of art. Art, he stressed, is a powerful means to counter the politics of division and to unite people, and students must recognise this role.

Tracing the history of the Kerala School Festival, he said it began in 1956 at SRV Girls High School, Ernakulam, as a one-day event called Yuvajanotsavam, with just 200 participants. Today, it has grown into Asia’s largest cultural festival, with more than 14,000 students participating. The festival was expanded in 1975 to include classical art forms and was officially named the Kerala School Arts Festival in 2009.

Art, he said, is not only about creating joy but also a powerful tool to question social injustices and challenge oppressive systems. Ancient art forms, he noted, emerged not for competition or prizes but as natural expressions of human emotion, where there was no clear division between performer and audience.

Participation, he emphasised, is more important than winning. Awards are not the ultimate measure of talent; passion for art is. Children and parents should accept jury decisions in the true spirit of sportsmanship, and adults have a responsibility to ensure that children’s innocent minds are not tainted by negativity.

He concluded by calling for the protection of Kerala’s cultural heritage, where art forms such as Kathakali, Mappila songs, Oppana, and Margamkali are performed together by people of all religions. He expressed hope that the higher mission of art—to shape good human beings—would be fulfilled through the festival.