The Gujarat government has removed a poem by Aziz Tankarvi from the online edition of its annual Gujarat Deepotsavi Ank after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) objected to passages it said referenced Lord Ram and the Bhakti saint Meera Bai in an allegedly offensive manner, news agency PTI reported on Monday.
Immediate replacement and VHP demands
The poem, originally published on page 389 of this year's Diwali magazine produced by the state Information and Broadcasting Department, was removed and replaced with a composition titled Joiye by Kavi Prakash Jalal, according to the PTI report. The action followed a letter dated October 23 from the VHP to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, which sought the poem's immediate withdrawal and strict action against both the author and the officials who had approved its inclusion.
“We are glad that the state government promptly responded to our request and removed that controversial poem from the Diwali magazine,”
The remark was attributed to VHP Ahmedabad spokesperson Hitendrasinh Rajput in PTI coverage. VHP Ahmedabad region secretary Ashwin Patel was reported to have objected to the poem on the stated grounds that it contained objectionable references to Lord Ram and Meera Bai and had the potential to hurt Hindu religious sentiments.
Why the VHP objected
In its letter the VHP highlighted the significance of Diwali as the festival marking Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya after exile, and said the inclusion of the contested poem in a government publication was especially problematic. The organisation requested a review of the author’s prior works before such compositions are included in official publications and urged that future government material should feature authors who have a "positive outlook towards the nation, religion and culture," according to PTI.
Government response and contacts
Attempts to obtain comment from the Information and Broadcasting Department were reported to be unsuccessful; PTI said efforts to contact the department secretary, Vikrant Pandey, did not yield a response.
The state’s decision to replace the poem in the online edition removes the immediate text from public view, but the episode raises questions about editorial checks and the vetting process followed for government cultural publications that are disseminated widely during major festivals.
Administrative and cultural implications
Government-published cultural material occupies a sensitive space where literary expression, communal sentiment and public administration intersect. The VHP’s demand for action against officials who approved the poem introduces an administrative angle: it seeks not only removal of the text but potential disciplinary scrutiny of those responsible for editorial choices.
Political and cultural groups have in recent years increased scrutiny of content in official publications and public institutions. In Gujarat, where festivals such as Diwali are observed with prominent state-level publicity and programmes, the inclusion or exclusion of particular voices can attract rapid public attention and organised complaints.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 23, 2026 | VHP writes to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel seeking removal of the poem and action against author and approving officials. |
| By October 26, 2026 | State replaces Aziz Tankarvi's poem with Joiye by Kavi Prakash Jalal in the online Deepotsavi Ank; removal reported by PTI. |
Practical considerations for future publications
Stakeholders and administrators may consider a more formalised vetting mechanism for state cultural publications to pre-empt disputes. The VHP’s letter asked for prior review of authors’ earlier works — a demand that, if adopted, would require the Information and Broadcasting Department to establish editorial guidelines balancing artistic freedom and public sensitivity.
- State replaced the contested poem in the online edition of the Diwali magazine.
- VHP sought action against the author and officials, and asked for future vetting of authors' past works.
- Attempts to contact the Information and Broadcasting Department secretary Vikrant Pandey were unsuccessful, according to PTI.
The episode will be watched by writers' groups, cultural bodies and political organisations in Gujarat, where government-sponsored cultural output remains a significant channel for public engagement around festivals and heritage.
