I had the pleasure recently of participating in an unusual instance of a rare phenomenon in our conventional politics – an example of gubernatorial outreach to the general public. The occasion was the release of “Rajahams”, the official in-house journal of the Kerala Raj Bhavan. Raj Bhavans rarely issue their own publications, and Governors do not usually see outreach to the public as being among their principal duties. But this publication is an exception. It is not a mere chronicle of events—it is a living testimony of the Governor, Rajendra Arlekar’s, commitment to constitutional values, inclusive development, and service to the people.

The very name ‘Rajahams’ evokes a wealth of images from our cultural memory. In Sanskrit literature, the hamsa—the swan—is celebrated as the bird of wisdom and purity. Kālidāsa, in his immortal works, used the image of the hamsa as a messenger gliding across skies, carrying songs of love, duty, and longing. In Meghadūta, the poet gives wings to yearning, while in Raghuvaṃśa he likens the swan’s gait to the grace of noble queens. Ancient lore even speaks of the hamsa as a bird capable of separating milk from water—a symbol of discernment, the ability to choose the true from the false. What better name, then, for a journal that seeks to convey truth, culture, and values from the Raj Bhavan to the people?

Internal communication, it is often said, is the success mantra of every great establishment. Just as the swan becomes a bridge between realms, Rajahams becomes a bridge between governance and the governed. In this way, Raj Bhavan does not remain a distant institution, but one that listens, reflects, and shares.

In the Indian constitutional scheme, the Governor occupies a curious space; he is a figure both........

© Mathrubhumi English