A cloud of controversy hangs over the potential attendance of Kamala Gavai, mother of the Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai and founder of the Shri Dadasaheb Charitable Trust, at an upcoming Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Vijayadasami celebration. Despite earlier indications, her participation as a chief guest is now uncertain following widespread social media backlash.
Dr. Rajendra Gavai, CJI Gavai’s brother and a prominent leader of the RPI (Gavai), initially confirmed his mother’s acceptance of the invitation. However, he recently told ‘The Hindu’ that Ms. Gavai is deeply ‘upset’ by the online controversy and has not yet made a final decision on whether she will attend the event.
The RSS had formally extended an invitation to Kamala Gavai to preside as chief guest at its Vijayadasami celebration, slated for October 5 in Amravati. This event is part of the RSS’s centenary year commemorations, taking place three days after a similar celebration in Nagpur. Local Sangh officials had previously confirmed her acceptance, leading to the printing and distribution of invitation cards.
The controversy intensified when a strongly worded letter, purportedly from Kamala Gavai, went viral on social media. This letter explicitly denied accepting the RSS invitation, claiming her name was used without permission. It emphatically stated that as a ‘true Ambedkarite,’ she would never attend such an event. When questioned about this letter, Dr. Rajendra Gavai dismissed its authenticity, noting it lacked a signature and thus couldn’t be verified.
Family’s Stance and Political Reactions
Dr. Rajendra Gavai emphasized that the Gavai family has historically maintained cordial relations with all, drawing a clear distinction between personal and political associations. He highlighted that his father, R.S. Gavai, a respected Ambedkarite leader, had also attended significant events in the past. Dr. Gavai suggested that the current negative campaigning might stem from some individuals’ discontent over his brother’s elevation to a prominent judicial position. He reiterated the family’s respect for all religions, while condemning those who spread ‘wrong things’ about them.
Reacting to the unfolding situation, CPI(M) leader and Polit Bureau member Ashok Dhawale offered a strong perspective. He asserted that Ms. Gavai’s initial attributed stance, where she reportedly declined the invite as an Ambedkarite, was the correct one. Dhawale expressed surprise at the counter-statement from her son. He underscored that the RSS and BJP are perceived as proponents of Manusmruti, a text famously burned by Babasaheb Ambedkar as a revolutionary act. Dhawale argued that an Ambedkarite could never align with an RSS or BJP platform, as it would be a ‘complete travesty’ of Ambedkar’s principles. He expressed hope that Kamala Gavai would uphold this ideological stance, seeing it as a powerful message from Maharashtra against such politics.