Even as Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar’s directive to universities to observe ‘Partition horror day’ on August 14 has ignited a controversy, the State government has decided to observe Sadbhavana Diwas (Communal harmony day) on a grand scale on August 20, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The government issued a general instruction to all District Collectors and department heads to take a pledge on the theme of national integration and communal harmony on the day.
A circular issued by the General Administration department instructed the heads of departments and District Collectors to administer the oath at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
“I solemnly pledge to work with dedication for the unity and harmony of all sections of the people of India, without any consideration of community, religion, region, or language. I pledge never to resort to violence and to resolve all differences through dialogue and other constitutional means,” will read the pledge
Speaking to The Hindu, a GAD officer said Sadbhavana Diwas was being observed on the theme of national integrity and communal harmony since 1992.
He said this had nothing to do with the controversy over the ‘Partition horror day’ observance. Normally, in many States, students would also take a pledge to work for maintaining social harmony in schools, colleges, and universities. However, the Kerala government order did not insist that the students take the oath to coincide with the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi.
The ceremony aimed to uphold social harmony and mutual respect within the country’s multi-ethnic society.
Raj Bhavan’s instruction to universities to organise seminars and commemorative events as part of ‘Partition horror day’, including street plays and dramas highlighting the trauma of Partition, did not go well with the State administration with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan terming the directive “unconstitutional and unacceptable.”
