Smarting under the allegation that it had insulted the memory of Sandeep Unnikrishnan, another martyr, the government of Kerala went all out to accord every honour to Kavita. The state home minister spoke at the event and presented her a portrait of Hemant Karkare done by a Kerala artist with golden straw. The education and culture minister, who may well have masterminded the whole project, took her home for breakfast and accompanied her to the chief minister.
Although a report on Unnikrishnan's death was displayed on the stage, no one referred to him or the other martyrs except Vijay Yesudas, who sang in tribute to the martyrs. The government appeared to be keen to make amends for the injustice it had done to Unnikrishnan. It appeared to rise above parochialism by honouring someone outside the state as a symbol of sacrifice.
Kavita had her embarrassing moments when a couple of speakers mispronounced her name and when one speaker repeated the story that she had rejected the offer of a crore of rupees made by Chief Minister Narendra Modi. She had clarified to the press on an earlier occasion that there was no such offer. Perhaps, the offer was made by Modi to the Maharashtra government, which had turned it down. The organisers did not seem to mind some discomfiture to Modi even for the wrong reasons. Kavita, of course, did not want to be dragged into any controversy and decided not to speak to the press.
Image: Hemant Karkare at a security demonstration in Mumbai. Photograph: Arun Patil
Also see: Tearful adieu to Major Unnikrishnan
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