Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has firmly defended the practice of Gurupooja, including foot-washing (“Paadapooja”) of teachers by students, asserting it's an integral part of Indian culture and tradition. Speaking at a Balagokulam event in Balaramapuram on July 13, he remarked that offering flowers or performing rituals at a guru’s feet is inherent to “our samskara” and warns that abandoning such practices would mean losing our identity.

This defense follows strong criticism from Kerala’s LDF government. Education Minister V. Sivankutty expressed shock at reports of foot-washing ceremonies conducted at Saraswathi Vidyalayam, Bandadka, and Vidyadhiraja Vidyapeetom Sainik School in Mavelikara. He described the act as “condemnable” and “against democratic values,” directing the Directorate of Public Instruction to seek an explanation from the schools involved.

The PTI-sourced coverage highlights a broader backlash: CPI(M) state secretary M. V. Govindan chided the rituals as feudal and accused them of attempting to revive caste hierarchies, warning they instill a “slave mentality” among students, especially in RSS-aligned schools.

School staff defended the practice as voluntary and part of their Guru Purnima celebrations. Meanwhile, Governor Arlekar challenged critics, asking, “I don’t understand which culture they come from,” and reiterated that honoring one’s guru is fundamental to preserving India's cultural heritage.