The Marxists are no longer at odds with gods. The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) in Kerala is set to celebrate Ramayana Masam as its new gameplan against the growing might of the BJP and the RSS in the state.

The party, known for its deep ideological antipathy towards religion, now plans to hold a month-long festival of speeches, seminars and classes on the epic. A cultural wing of the party, the Sanskrit Sangh, will hold these programmes.

The Ramayana Masam (month) will commence 17 July. The party is organising a state seminar on 25 July and holding discussions and classes in all districts.

The CPM has traditionally enjoyed the support of the state’s Hindus, but now that section of votes has come under severe pull from the rising saffron forces.

In Kerala, with the RSS making inroads into administration of prominent temples, the CPM has resorted to Ramayana. The party feels that if this plan works, it can stop people from joining the BJP.

“I am a Communist party member. I never told my wife or children not to go to the temple. If my son studies Ramayana, it will help him to understand what is in it. And I am not against it,” KP Manoj, a resident of Kannur, told MyNation.

Many Communists don’t allow their children to study in English medium schools, or go to temples and other religious places because of their ideology.