On July 21, 2023, AN Shamseer, the Kerala Assembly Speaker, emphasised the promotion of ‘scientific temper’ in education over what he labelled ‘myths’. He spoke sacrilegiously about Sri Ganesha and Hindu itihasa, under the guise of promoting ‘scientific temper’ while addressing school children.

“Who invented aeroplane? If you ask me, it is Wright brothers, but for those who believe in Hindutva ideology, pushpaka vimana is the first aircraft (a flying chariot mentioned in the Hindu epic Ramayana). Instead of encouraging scientific temper in students textbooks…today what we know as infertility treatment IVF was actually how the Kauravas were born, this is what they are trying to teach you. Plastic surgery is a discovery of medical science. But what they are trying to teach you is that plastic surgery happened long back in Hinduism. Who was the first plastic surgery baby, the one who has a human body and an elephant’s head, Ganapati. This is how myths are being propagated instead of science,” Shamsheer said, derogating Hindu Dharma and peddling falsehoods in what was likely an attempt to run down the center’s New Education Policy and textbook revision effort to remove Marxist propaganda.

A complaint was lodged by the BJP Thiruvananthapuram district Vice President, accusing Shamseer of insulting Hindu beliefs under the pretext of promoting “rational thinking.”

The person who filed the complaint highlighted that Shamseer’s comments should be taken seriously, given that they were made in front of school children. The complaint argued that cases should be filed under IPC section 153 (a) and section 295 (a) to address insulting religious beliefs or religion.

These controversial remarks on Bhagwan Ganesha drew strong criticism from various Hindu organisations in the state. The Nair Service Society (NSS) observed Faith Preservation Day on August 2, 2023, protesting Shamseer’s statements. The NSS urged the government to take decisive action and issue a sincere apology, retract the remarks instead of downplaying the matter. Sukumaran Nair, the General Secretary of the NSS, highlighted that any actions that promote religious animosity are not acceptable. He urged the Speaker to withdraw his remarks and offer an apology to Hindus for offending their religious sentiments.

Members of the Nair community organised a demonstration, during which Sukumaran Nair from the NSS took part in rituals at Vazhappally Temple in Kottayam. The NSS announed their intention to organise a procession from Palayam Ganapathy Temple to Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple. Sukumaran Nair criticised the sacrilegious remarks of Shamseer, and replying to journalists, he asked whether ‘anyone had actually seen houris in heaven’. He emphasised that people of the Hindu faith have lived in harmony with other religions in Kerala. He also attributed the remark to anti-Hindu views and warned that if Hindus are mocked, harsh responses will follow.

Kerala Assembly Speaker AN Shamseer was also condemned by Hindu organisations like Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, Dheevara Sabha, and Yogakshema Sabha. On August 2, 2023, Shamseer clarified that his comments on ‘Hindu myths’ were not intended to target believers. He stated that the Indian Constitution grants the right to believe and promote any religion, emphasising the duty of citizens to promote scientific temper. Shamseer also stated that no one had the right to question his ‘secular credentials’.

CPIM Kerala State Secretary MV Govindan defended defended Assembly Speaker AN Shamsheer’s sacrilegious statements, stating that the ‘Left party does not harbour hostility towards any religion or belief system’. He criticised the ruling BJP for ‘imposing a saffron hue on various aspects, including history’.

Rich, coming from a Communist whose ideologues like Irfan Habib and Romila Thapar have distorted the history taught in our schools beyond recognition!

Govindan asserted that the comment about Sri Ganesha and plastic surgery was not attributed to Shamseer, but was actually made by PM Modi during the inauguration of Reliance Hospital in Mumbai back in 2014. But what he sidestepped was how this justified Shamsheer derogating Hindu Dharma while spreading lies about new textbooks.

Govindan contended that it is essential to distinguish between myths, history, and science and treat each accordingly. He also said ‘all beliefs of believers are not a myth’, when asked whether Allah was a myth. Conversely, when asked if Sri Ganesha was a myth, he said yes!

Govindan alleged that ‘deliberate attempts were being made to reshape historical narratives for political gains’ in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha election. He also accused the BJP of using the NSS’ position for political purposes.

The Kerala Congress-led UDF has decided not to discuss Speaker Shamseer’s controversial remarks on Sri Ganesha in the Assembly. The Congress believes that discussing the “myth” issue will create an impression of a witch hunt, alienating the Muslim community and potentially influencing the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, as per a report in Janam TV.