A week or so ago, I received the editorial of the Thuglak magazine from a friend as an email forward. In it, the magazine lambasts the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, for his (mis-)handling of and his attitudes concerning the Sethusamudram project.
Titled “Arrogance, is your name Kalaignar?“, this was a fantastic piece and took apart clinically the DMK’s bungling on the issue. For those who can read Tamil, here it is. Here is a rough translation of the same. I have tried to remain true to the editorial’s contents as far as possible.
That the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu makes a habit out of wounding the sentiments of Hindus is known to one and all. But his remarks at the recent DMK meeting in Erode is a new chapter in his anti-Hinduism stance.
The Central Government recently informed the Supreme Court of India that it was looking into ways of executing the Sethusamudram project without disturbing the Ram Setu (the bridge that Lord Rama is known to have built on his way to Lanka). This should certainly have rubbed the Chief Minister the wrong way. This is because his primary motive seems to be not the Sethusamudram project, but the demolition of the Ram Setu. Which is why the Centre’s stance angers him. But of what use is his anger?
Already the Congress Government seems to be reeling under fear of being toppled. So even if the DMK were to threaten the Congress with a withdrawal of support, it won’t really carry so much weight. The Centre’s actions not only seem to verify its respect for Lord Rama, but has also won it three months of breathing space on the issue.
In his address in Erode, the Chief Minister spewed his rhetoric: “There are some who believe that even today people will accept baseless, supersitious, even crazy beliefs. And they play on this by invoking Rama’s name. We are now in a situation where we can act in order to dispel the darkness that might surround us for ages; and it is with that view that I present before you an action-plan. The Central Government has submitted to right-wing communal forces, and is standing in the way of the Sethusamudram project. We should object to this unequivocally.”
Is it enough just to raise voices in unison? The Central Government seems to have subscribed to the “baseless, superstitious, even crazy beliefs let loose by communal forces.” Even the Union Minister for Law has commented that “Rama is an inseparable part of India’s culture. This is not a matter open to debate. Just like the Himalayas are the Himalayas, and the Ganga is the Ganga, so Rama is Rama. One doesn’t need to prove anything in this regard.”
The Centre has, in its communication to the Supreme Court, conveyed the message that it respects the sanctity of the Ramayana, and that it respects all religions; and in this matter, the Hindu religion specifically.
So the plan to plunge the country into “darkness for ages” is supported, even sponsored, by the Central Government. Then how on earth can the DMK continue to support the Central Government? How can the DMK hug onto ministerial berths in such a Government? If, as the Chief Minister contends, the Congress is shortselling the country to traitors, how can the DMK continue to be in power in Tamil Nadu with the support of that selfsame Congress party? Is this not a greater treachery on the part of the DMK? Is not the DMK compromising the lofty principles of Periyar by indulging in such treachery?
The only way the DMK can win over these traitors and their treachery is to withdraw its support to the Central Government, and also let the Congress party withdraw its support to the State Government. Why is the Chief Minister not doing this? Is he afraid of something? What reason can one ascribe to this other than his lust and greed for power?
The Chief Minister has even gone on to call the Central Government a sly fox, a chameleon. Then what can one describe him as, when he doesn’t have the guts to oppose the actions of the Central Government? The truth is that the Chief Minister doesn’t hesitate one bit when it comes to compromising the principles of Periyar in order to remain in power, and also see the members of his family remain firmly in positions of power. But he can let loose tons of rhetoric. When it comes to verbal battles, he ranks top of the pile. But when it comes to putting it into actions, he falls far short. His inaction, or rather inability to act, is because of his power-hungry attitude that helps the members of his family stay in power.
Now that he is unable to react to the Congress, who else can his rhetoric target? Yes, there is always the easy target – the sentiments of Hindus.
His eyes blinded by anger, the Chief Minister gets into his own when it comes to verbal volleys: “Who is Ram? Which engineering college did He attend? When exactly did He construct the bridge? Is there any proof?” There are some who spew hypocrisy thinking it is intelligent talk. How different is this?
If one says that the bridge was constructed by Ram, it doesn’t mean that He collected and arranged stones and built the bridge all by Himself. We read in history that a king constructed a temple, installed sculptures and so on. We don’t question, “Did he carry stones himself? Did he sculpt them himself?” Under his orders, a group of experts would have worked on the project and brought it to fruition. But we don’t mention the name of the sculptor when talking about the temples or the statues. Rather we refer to them as the work of the king. This is how it is all over the world.
The case of the Ram Setu is similar. While the Chief Minister habitually speaks ill of the Ramayana, he also doesn’t forget to misquote from the epic from time to time.
Valmiki describes the process thus:
The king of the seas aided Ram in the construction of the bridge. He even appointed Nala to help Rama. Nala was the son of Vishwakarma (who is considered the Creator of the worlds). He had not only inherited his father’s skill, but had also his full blessings. An expert, he at once ordered Sugriva to collect all the necessary construction material. Sugriva’s army of vanarars got into action immediately. (Here, it is instructive to distinguish vanarars from monkeys, which is what everyone assumes. Valmiki’s Ramayana notes that vanarars were skilled in construction work, and even used their skill to build huge palaces.)
With their help, rocks were gathered from mountains, trees felled and all the required material was brought to the coastline. The huge rocks were pushed into the sea, and the trees were placed atop the rocks. In this fashion, the bridge was built. Some commented that it looked like a constellation of stars, while some others felt it resembled the parting of the hair in the head. Over this bridge, Rama, Surgriva and his army crossed the ocean into Lanka.
So, instead of sounding like an ignoramus, the Chief Minister should at least have asked, “Which engineering college did Nala attend?” To which our answer would have been “He learnt the skill from his father, who was an expert.” Will the selfsame Chief Minister who quips, “Where did Rama learn civil engineering?” also ask the following questions?
- Legend has it that Kannagi burnt the city of Madurai by culling her breasts and throwing it at the city. Where did she learn this technique? Did she major in Biology? Or nuclear engineering?
Will the Hon’ble Chief Minister stoop to ask such a question? WE will not. Because we understand that Kannagi’s actions attest to the power of Kannagi’s devotion to her husband
- The Chief Minister himself has written an explanation to the ancient Tamil grammar text “Tholkaappiam”. Will he condescend to ask “At which university did Tholkaappiar learn grammar? Who taught him, he who devised the rules of Tamil grammer, the principles of grammar?”
WE will not. Because we realize that in ages gone by, people lived who were of such scholarly ability that we cannot even dream to match.
- We all know that Thiruvalluvar gave us Thirukkural, one of the great achievements in world literature. Will the Chief Minister deign to question “Where did Thiruvalluvar learn the art of crafting poems? Who taught him the nuances of the Tamil language? From where did he comprehend the philosophy studded in his couplets?
WE will not. Because we realize that Thiruvalluvar was a saint, a scholar whose poetry and philosophy was God-given.
Let it be. Does anyone wonder whether the Chief Minister, who questions the existence of Lord Rama, has ever commented about the beliefs of people of other faiths?
- Does he have anything to say about the Hazrat Bal mosque in Kashmir, which is known to enshrine a hair of Prophet Mohammad? Will the Chief Minister debase himself by asking if it is really belongs / belonged to Prophet Mohammad? Will he ask for proof?
WE will not. Because we know it doesn’t become of a civilized individual to speak ill about the great men held in high esteem by people of different faiths.
- It is known that Jesus Christ died on the cross, but came back to life two days after. Will the Chief Minister dare to ask “Where did Christ conduct research on Resurrection? Or if someone brought Him back to life, where did that person learn this art? Is there a proof for all this?”
WE will not. Because we consider it a savage act to mock at prophets, saints and messengers of God, even if they belong to a religion different from that we follow. Why go such lengths? The Chief Minister himself has gone on record saying that he sports a yellow towel because the Buddha wore a dress of the same colour.
- Will the Chief Minister question this: “What proof exists that the Buddha wore a yellow dress? Where did he dye his dress yellow?”
WE will not. Because we think only fools will pass demeaning comments about great men, who are considered reincarnations of God.
The DMK supremo hastens to cite that even Pandit Nehru once said that the Ramayana is just a tale, and is not real. But how can one consider the views of Nehru, or anyone for that matter, to be the final word on this subject.
Even if one were to think that what Nehru said is like the word of God, it would serve well to know what Nehru once said about the DMK. He called the DMK “nonsense”. For this utterance of his, the DMK staged mass protests condemning Nehru. Why did they do this? The DMK which considers Nehru’s words to be be of sacrosanct nature should have shut shop that same day. After all, Nehru couldn’t be wrong, right? Why persist with what in Nehru’s own words was “nonsense”?
It needs no repetition that the Chief Minister has spoken without applying his mind. But his selective rhetoric is carefully tuned to hurt only Hindus. Because he thinks Hindus are dunderheads. Else how will he stoop to pass remarks about someone who is considered God by millions of Hindus?
The Chief Minister has acted out of the combined conceit, insolence and imperiousness that his money, power and political successes have given him. It is an irony that the power that feeds his arrogance which leads him to demean Lord Rama was given to him by people, three-fourths of whom pray to Him daily.
Will the Chief Minister categorically reject the votes of those who think Rama is God? Will he do his best not to ever solicit their votes? Why wait for him? Let us do it now. We should consider it shameful to vote for this Chief Minister or for any party that seeks to affiliate itself with him.
No related posts.
Why in the first place does he have to hurt Hindus constantly.India ,India is a Hindu country…Why dont our people in the first place realize We are Hindus by birth.I respect all religion…These type of crtics make us distinguish who we are in the first place.
Even the other countries consider us and make us have our temples where we vist with full devotion.Why does he not have the other countries kindness and respect toward’s other religion.
Tell him to vist UK and US only the temples here not for his personal…He will know its not enough copying United States in culture and developing chennai…Tell him learn how to respect other religion and know what the real mworld is… Not for vote reasons Edum othukeedu…matravangalku…screwing up the younger generations admissions and education. If he really loves them tell him to provide free education to them so they can love him through out their generation.
Politics.Does he really care about them NO NO NO.
Our stories are being critized in any manner How Lord Muruga has two wives?I ahve to explain to teach people how life will be when he has two wives.
How Lord Shiva has two wives?and so on and on…Why does he have to hurt us…Now the whole world will laugh still why do we pray Lord Rama …who is he…Wouldnt now the question arise how about Babar masjid in Ayodhya?
Why the heck does he have to screw up the whole epic…
Rama is Rama…He symbolises a soul pure in heart ..Why do they hate him now?Because he has one wife?Because his story teaches culture to one and all who beleives him.
He has no rights to hurt peoples sentimentIts like that.he not a born ruler…He is no God and representing God .
This is a lesson to one and all Hindu we have to be united understand Forget whetehr its a Brahmin or a Non brahmin…We have screw up these politicians…who act like this.
he he he! one more comment may be he has more profit personally in this Ramar issue…Money !!!What else…Karunanidhi…Disgusting…He does not deserve to be person to rule a govt…A CM who has no ffelings for his people does not deserve to be .
So the mistake is on our ignorant people..voting these type of Hypocrites.
Whatever boom boom boom in India…crap People like this can never make India boom.Politicians…Shame Shame Shame.
RM Verappa says in a movie “Muttal makkal… indha naadum nattu makkulum nasamai pooga”. As long as the hindus are tolerant of such atrocracies, people like M.Karunanidhi will keep yapping crap around.
Ask him to talk ill of any other minorities or their beliefs, he won’t. Because they are his votebanks. Bloody Politician…
~a.k.
Annathe…people of our state has gone ahead of these kind of men. So, no great harm can be done to our civil society, by these people. We, Indians will always find the equilibrium sooner than most other people.
1 1=infinitely stupid senile actions that will end in DMK losing the next election
where 1 = Karunanidhi’s personal non-belief in god
and 1 = the fact that he’s 80 and still in active politics and aCM to boot.
Thanks for the write-up…loved it every bit…
Such a mean politician is hard to come by. He is out and out a casteist. He promotes castes and wants casteism to perpetuate. He hates Brahmins and has made them his whipping boy so as to get the whole Tamil society up against them. So that he continues to get votes for him and for his son, based on reservaton and balkanization of the society on caste lines. He sells hatredd to buy votes. Everybody knows he is corrupt and how he amassed such a huge pile of wealth ruling (nay, ruining) the state. His strong protests are not for the project per se, but the financial stakes it holds for him.
The pitiable fun of the whole episode is that he equates Ram with Brahmins and hence his outburst against Ram. That a Brahmin god stands between him and the financial fortune that awaits him through the Project, has only added salt to his injury. Is he, who claims to have thoroughly read Ramayana, not aware of the fact that Ram was only a Kshatriya and in fact Ravana was a Brahmin!
The people that I come across in Delhi wonder why no voice is raised against his remarks in Tamil Nadu, while the Hindus the world over are deeply hurt and condemn his statement. Are the Tamils too timid to oppose him openly or is every Tom, Dick and Harry in the state an atheist? I throw two gauntlets up to him – let him pick up one which is more convenient to him. First, let him come to Delhi and utter those words in a public rally. Alternatively, let him stay there itself and need not even pass negative comments on the faith of Muslims or Christians. Let him merely proclaim that he wouldn’t henceforth attend the religious functions of Muslims or Christians, and ape their attire. If he accepts my challange, I will vouch that he is a truly secular person.
S.Ganesh
http://englishtamil.blogspot.c.....hindu.html –
have a look at this …
The irony here is that the historical evidence can be considered as a proof of existence of Jesus or Prophet Muhammad, but not in case of Lord Ram. This is a result of the Hindu community being the most liberal community in the world. Who says that RSS/VHP are communal forces? Aren’t these leaders who show a soft corner for other religions and spilt venom on Hindu sentiments communal? What are the so called secular leaders doing in this country? The mmodel of secularism imposed on India by the ideology of of Mahatma Gandhi/Pandit Nehru has lost its relevance. The people who drafted the constitution where too idealistic. In the name of secularism, they have given us a constitution which gives our leaders complete freedom to practice minority appeasement. By hurting the sentiments of the majority community, our leaders want to please the minority community , just for their vote bank.
To Nambi > Karunanidhi is a politician (politicians and business community stage-act) and he will stoop to any level. And so are any other politician in India, for that matter any country.{ In India they all get away unscathed, while in advanced countries its tough}
That being said, why paint JUST him as arrogant, foolish, idiotic etc., Are there not any Brahmin VIP or politician who has NOT been with these qualities?
Look around and you will be overwhelmed.
Do not portray ALL Brahmins as Pure and principled. Jayalalitha exposed Kanchi Jr Sankarachariar. If a Hindu-Sanyasi can organise a killing INSIDE a place as sanctified as a Vishnu Temple, why not Karunanidhi misrepresent his caste to win votes, that he is an ordinary politician any way?
Brahmin community is really supreme. But in practice, in to-day’s world how do they fare? Do they live up to their values? Just to quote, In Temples, How many Archakas perform puja the way it should be performed?
For a long period of time this community has been using its intelligence, capabilities just for their own good, stepping all over ‘others’.
It is simple cause and effect that likes of Periyar (a legend and not what Nambi says) came into existence.
Not that there are no True, committed Brahmins. There ARE many. But, pitiably, very handful.
When people use words like “moron”, “mentally instable” to prove point, they achieve little or at best it conveys their frustration that others have found the truth. Otherwise they will put forth what is true not curses like ‘moron’.
Yes, the law of Karma is catching up. And this Karma applies to all including Brahmins. And that precisely is what – is happening now. See a point?
At the instigation of a parpan, Rama beheaded shambuk, an untouchable for doing penance. Can rama be considered a hero leave alone god? What do parpanargal have to say about this? That is why rama was duly garlanded by rationalists in yesteryears. Parpanargal hate periyar not because he was an athiest, but because he questioned the monopoly of parpanargal on hinduism, hindu temples and hindu institutions. Periyar once remarked that if he changed his views and accept parpanargal monopoly, they will do pooja for my photo and they will even call me 64th nayanar. Tuglak cho is a jathi madha veriyan and all his views are based on this. In no way is amma better than ayya, be it corruption, style of functioning or achievements made. He himself written about ammas corruption and style of functioning. But still he supports amma because both are parpanargal. He supports rajni politics but not vijaykanth politics because rajni is half parpanar. Cho does not support the present central govt., though the govt follows the economic policies dear tohim, because parpan is not at the held of affair and forthat matter no parpan occupies important position in the central govt.
I once attended thuglak anniversary meeting of cho when sankarachari had been arrested in connection with sankararaman murder. Cho thundered that sankararaman was a blackmailer and he was not a saint to merit any statue. What a fantastic argument from a lawyer who has never appeared in any court and still some people call him eminent lawyer just to keep people in laughing mood. So according to cho, if a person is a blackmailer he can be murdered and if sankararaman was blackmailing, what was the weekness of sankarachari about which sankararaman was blackmailing. And why is cho defending a alleged murderer instead of saying that law should take its course. The reasons is obvious. No parpana madathalaivar should be blamed for anything. The irony is he is supporting the very same person who according to him foisted a false murder charge on the holy madathalaivar
@Nakkeeran: Could you provide evidence about Rama killing Shambuk (never heard the name before) at the insistence of a paarpan? I am not asking for video evidence or anything, but if you could point me to a credible source, I would welcome it.
I am not asking for evidence in order to disprove you or to make light of your case. I’m interested in knowing more, period.
As a paarpan (or a Brahmana) myself, I condemn my community’s past excesses in the name of exclusivity. But your condemnation of Cho is a personality attack, and it does not look at the arguments that Cho has put forth. Brahmins of ages gone by might be wrong, but that is no reason why you should not argue the facts of the case.
Regarding ram sethu controversy, i would like to give below what mahakavi bharathi said some 90 years ago. Kadalinai thandiya kurangum, senkanalidai thondriya sevvidhazh pennum, vadamalai thazhnthadhinale, therku vandhu saman sei kuttai muniyum, nadhiyinulle moozhgi poi, andha nagar ulagilor pambin magalai, vidhiyurave manam seidha andha veemanum karpanai enbadhai kandom. Kadhaigal poigale aayinum, nalla kavidhaigal yathu thandhar and so on. I dont think cho, jaya, ramagopalan and subramaniasamy will claim that they are wiser than Bharathiar. I thank vijay narayanam for having gone through my views. The slaying of shambuk takes place in uthara kandam of ramayanam. He can refer to some scholars in this respect. the story is as follows. A parpanar came to ramas court and complained that his son died of a snake bite because an untouchable was doing penance. Immediately rama went to forest with his army and beheaded shambuk. What has my friend vijay narayanan got to say about chos views on sankararaman murder case?
Cho, in his own inimitable clownish way, has asked whether karunanidhi would oppose many other beliefs. Yes, defenitely, if it comes in the way of common good of the society as in the case of sethu. He has also exhorted his people not to vote for karunanidhi anymore, as if he and his clan have been voting for him so far. K has remained so throughout and has not changed his views in these matters. That being the case, why did cho broker an alliance between dmk and tmc in 1996? How has K changed since then?
I agree with nakkeeran when he says that cho is caste biased. By any yardstick, MGRs rule was far far better than that of jaya. But cho never supported MGR in any election but he is all praise for jaya inspite of her corruption and arrogance which cho knows well. What is the basis for chos new found virtues in jaya except caste bias? In a recent interview cho was showering encomiums on jaya for her courage, intelligence and administrative acumen. By virtue of these qualities about which cho goes ecstatic, what is the contribution made by her during her 10 years rule? After all, this type of courage we found in veerappan also.
Dear vijay narayanan, have you got your doubt cleared about slaying of shambuk by the god avathar rama? If not just search by the word shambuk in the website and you will know for yourself.
@Nakkeeran: I looked up Shambuk on Google. The story goes that he was slain by Rama because he was an asura. Now, this can be interpreted any which way you want. For one, you can call it the triumph of good over evil. You can also spin it as a person from a higher caste killing someone from a lower caste. We could round and round the same talking points and never get anywhere at all.
Your other quote (from Mahakavi Bharatiyaar) is interesting. You argue that because the mundaasu kavignan said “kadhaigal poigalE aayinum”, Ramayana could just be a tale. But this could also be interpreted in the light of another Bharati poem (NirpathuvE), where he claims that everything could be just temporal, imaginary and passing.
I do not have a comment on Cho’s views on the Sankararaman murder case, but I wonder why you would not address the facts of Cho’s argument as outlined in the main post, and instead choose to focus on his religious affiliations and leanings.
If I can sum your argument up in one sentence, it would be “The Sethusamudram project must go on because Brahmins oppressed other communities in the past.”
Dear vijay narayanan, shambuk was not an asura but a sudra according to the story. Had he been an asura, his vadh would have been like any other asura vadh and there would not have been any contraversy. Perhaps for some people both mean the same thing.
I have quoted many instances about cho just to show that his views are skewed. Even in the article in question, in the guise of asking K to question other beliefs, he scratches his itches of ridiculing other religious beliefs and tamil literature. Nobody believes that kannagi burnt madurai by her “ida nagil”. It is all poetic literary ornament called “uyarvu navirchi ani” I hope you understand. But the thrust of my argument is whether such beliefs should be allowed to come in the way of common good of the society.
Actually, sethu project with the present alignment was cleared by vajpayee govt. The implementation started after UPA came to power and it was under way for more than two years spending more than 2000 crores. What was cho and co doing all these years and why this hue and cry now? why dont they criticise vajpayee and bjp for clearing the project?
@Nakkeeran: I take offense to your statement that “some people” consider shudra and asura as the same thing. Your position is blatantly racist / casteist, and I’m sure it has no place in a sane discussion.
The story of Shambuk is a source of much debate. To view it as an act of a person from a “supposedly” upper caste killing someone of a “supposedly” lower caste just because of the caste difference is simplistic at the very least. How do you then explain Rama killing Ravana, a Brahmana? There are dozens of other instances in the Ramayana which prove Rama to be beyond such base considerations.
In the article quoted, Cho’s central point is not whether he is for or against Sethusamudram. It is against Karunanidhi’s hypocrisy on this issue. On the one hand, he claims the Central Government a traitor; but he is part of that Government. He seeks support from the selfsame Congress party that he slams.
I understand that you are also against superstitions which come in the way of common good; but we shouldn’t also let blind hypocrisy come in the way of the same common good.
In a recent interview with Anu Hasan on vijay TV, cho has compared morning walkers with stray dogs going hither and thither aimlessly. so much for his decency in public utterances. Morning walkers, beware, cho may throw stones.
@Kalyan: So?
Hey Cho/Parpanar bashers,
You are ‘properly’ (mis)educated by Karunanidhi and company. We have been seeing him using this trick quite often. Whenever he is in trouble on an issue, he yaps some crap on parpanars and hinduism and thinks that people will forget the earlier issue. Wow… what Tamil fluency he has got! And you guys clap for his yap always. (I laughed and almost jumped out of my chair when I read his recent statement – ” I will throw my post for Srilankan Tamilians – when elections are round the corner. After all, Srilankan Tamilians issue is there for decades and Karunanidhi’s “sacrifices” will happen only during the times when elections are round the corner).
OK… I am not deviating the topic. What I meant was… the topic posted is about Karunanidhi’s remarks on Sethu and Thuglak’s opinion on that. If you can intelligently counter the author’s points, do it, else, be silent.
Excellent article by Cho..its old..but good..http://t.co/YQHowpm