Thiruvananthapuram: A small school in Kerala has found itself at the heart of a national controversy — and it’s not staying silent.

After being accused of promoting an “RSS song” during the launch of the Ernakulam–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express, the Saraswathi Vidyalaya has written a powerful letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, standing firm in its defence: “Can’t our children sing a patriotic song that praises our motherland?”

The letter, signed by Principal Dinto KP, struck a tone of quiet defiance and deep hurt. It clarified that the song performed — “Paramapavitramathamie Mannil Bharathambaye Poojikkan” — was a Malayalam patriotic hymn celebrating the purity and pride of India, “with no lines that question secularism or national unity.”

However, a storm was already brewing. Certain Malayalam news outlets had labelled the song “RSS-inspired,” prompting Southern Railway to delete its original post sharing the performance. What was meant to be a moment of joy for the students quickly turned into an ideological flashpoint.

“The removal of the tweet deeply saddened our students, staff, and parents,” the school wrote, adding that what was an innocent expression of love for the nation had been “twisted into a political statement.”

In a telling line to the Prime Minister, the school asked, “Does singing about Bharat Mata now need ideological approval?” The letter emphasised that patriotism should never be viewed through a political lens — a message that resonated far beyond the state.

Meanwhile, Kerala’s political establishment responded sharply. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called the move “highly condemnable” and a “blatant violation of constitutional principles.”  

Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal wrote to the Railway Minister, accusing the event organisers of “turning a public function into an RSS showcase.”

Venugopal’s statement went further: “It’s an insidious attempt to convert India from a Constitutional Republic into an RSS-controlled autocracy.”

However, in the eye of the storm, Saraswathi Vidyalaya stands unwavering — its students and teachers defending their song not as propaganda, but as patriotism.

As the principal’s letter concluded: “We only sang for Bharat Mata — not for any ideology.”