Christians in Kerala are all set to join their Hindu brethren in celebrating Diwali, the national festival of India. On Sunday evening, Christians in the State will light hundreds of diyas with the theme ‘Light A Lamp for Israel.’ This marks the first time Christians in Kerala will be observing Diwali, the festival of lights.

“Though it is a time for celebration, for us Christians, this Diwali is special. Each lamp we light up on Sunday evening is for the safe return of more than 200 soldiers of Israel held hostage by Hamas, a dreaded terrorist organisation,” said Kevin Peter, president of the Christian Association and Alliance for Social Action (CASA), an umbrella organisation of various Christian sects in Kerala.”

CASA’s decision to “observe” Diwali by lighting up diyas is in response to a call by Naor Gilon, Ambassador of Israel in India. The Ambassador, in a social media message, requested everyone to join the Israelis in lighting a diya for the hostages in Gaza. “Please join us in lighting a diya for the hostages in Gaza,” he had said in the message.

“240 of our loved ones have been held hostage by Hamas terrorists for a month. Every Diwali, we celebrate Lord Ram’s return by lighting diyas. This Diwali 2023, we invite you to light a diya in the hope of having our loved ones return,” said Gilon in a heart-rending message.

The CASA’s response to the Israeli Ambassador comes at a time when mainstream and fringe political parties in the State vie with one another in holding rallies in all districts of Kerala expressing solidarity with Hamas. No one mentions the background of the October 7 massacre of hundreds of Israelis by Hamas terrorists and blames the State of Israel, using cliché-ridden terms like ‘Zionist imperialism and cruelty to the poor Arabs.’ “The last few months have seen missiles being launched against Israeli establishments, including schools for children. Since the Kerala media is experts in blacking out news that goes against the supporters of Hamas, the common man is ignorant of the happenings in Gaza,” said Jaison Mazhuvancherry, a Christian activist.

The true colours of Hamas have been exposed by Mahdi Abdul Hadi, a Palestinian social and political scientist who describes the treachery committed by Hamas.

“Hamas won the 2006 elections in Gaza by repudiating terrorism and claiming that it stood for Change and Reform,” says Hadi in his foreword to “Hamas: From Resistance to Regime,” authored by Italian historian Paola Caridi.

Dr Hadi says Hamas changed tack after winning the election to the Gaza Council. Instead of the Change and Reform slogan, what Israel got was a fusillade of missile attacks that claimed the lives of hundreds of Jews, including a Keralite nurse named Sowmya.

No political leaders in Kerala visited the house of Sowmya, while the staff of the Israeli embassy and consulate accompanied the mortal remains of Sowmya, whom Israelis describe as the angel from Kerala.

Though a Christian MLA by the name of Mani C Kappen took to social media to condole the killing of Sowmya, he was forced to remove the same by his political masters, the CPI-M,” said Kevin.

“The rallies being held by various Islamist organisations in the State feature Hamas leaders addressing the gathering through video screens, and they make provocative speeches against two communities in India,” said Jaison.

Prof MG Sasibhushan, a historian and art critic, pointed out that the bonds between Jews and Kerala date back to the first century, while Islam is a late arrival. “At no point in time were there any skirmishes between the Malayalam-speaking people and the Jews. The ties remain intact even today,” said Kevin.

The CASA has made Diwali 2023 a memorable event in Kerala’s politics. Many Christian priests and members of hardline organisations describe Ramayana and Mahabharata as works of fiction authored by different individuals at different times.

For the CASA, what matters is the Indianisation of Christianity, and Diwali 2023 is the beginning.