Home News DMK-Supporting Dravidianists Target Pattimandram Raja

DMK-Supporting Dravidianists Target Pattimandram Raja

By
The Commune
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A controversy erupted around Pattimandram speaker and actor Raja after allegations surfaced on social media that he asked about a woman’s caste during a Tamil Sangam event in the United States, with DMK-supporting Dravidianist voices also entering the row and condemning him.

The issue began after a US-based Tamil posted an account on social media alleging that Raja, who rose to prominence speaking in debate forums led by Solomon Pappaiah, made caste-related enquiries while interacting with volunteers who had prepared food for him.

Allegations in Viral Post

In the post, it was stated that Pattimandram speaker Raja had travelled to Atlanta in the United States at the invitation of the American Tamil Sangam. He said the responsibility of preparing Tamil food on behalf of the Atlanta Tamil Sangam for Raja and fellow speaker Bharathi Baskar had been given to his sister, and that she, along with her friends, had prepared the food elaborately and taken it to the venue.

He alleged that after the food was served, Raja interacted with the women and enquired about their native places. According to the post, as soon as they mentioned their hometowns, Raja asked whether they belonged to a particular caste.

Karthikeyan further claimed that when it came to his sister’s turn, Raja asked where she was from. She replied that she was from Karaikudi, following which he asked if she was a Chettiar. He added that although his sister could have remained silent, Raja allegedly continued asking what community she belonged to.

He stated that since his sister did not respond, Raja moved on to question the next person. Karthikeyan said that when his sister later narrated the incident, she did so in tears. He wrote that she told him she would not have felt hurt even if Raja had criticised the food, but being asked about her caste in a place where no one knew or had asked about it made her feel uncomfortable. He added that she said she felt nauseated and found it very difficult to control her anger and tears.

The post strongly criticised Raja stating that in Tamil Nadu even an uneducated person would know that directly asking someone’s caste name was disgraceful, and that even if one wished to know, it would not be asked openly. Karthikeyan wrote that Raja was an educated person and a Pattimandram speaker who had spoken on countless stages, adding that he himself had long admired and listened to Raja’s speeches in Solomon Pappaiah’s Pattimandram, especially during Deepavali programmes. He said his sister too had admired Raja, which was why she had cooked wholeheartedly and brought food for him.

He further wrote that people like his sister pursued education, developed their talents, and settled in countries like the United States to live away from caste, religion, and communal divisions, and questioned whether such a regressive mindset should be carried there as well.

Continuing his criticism, he stated that the “low mentality” of identifying caste based on hometown had not left Raja. He questioned whether only Chettiars lived in Karaikudi and whether there were no other communities there. He asked why, even after his sister remained silent, Raja allegedly continued pressing her to reveal what community she belonged to. He added that if Raja had such caste obsession, he should conduct Pattimandrams only among people of his own caste and questioned whether it was appropriate to display caste hatred even in diaspora spaces where Tamils sought unity beyond caste.

The post also questioned what interest Raja had in knowing the caste of the person who cooked the food. Karthikeyan wrote that it was Raja’s good fortune that he had not encountered people like him in that situation, adding that had he done so, he would have questioned him strongly and exposed what he described as a casteist mindset.

Dravidianist Response

DMK-supporting Dravidianist voices entered the controversy, especially Dravidar Kazhagam member and advocate Arulmozhi Annamalai, who condemned the alleged conduct.

In a social media post, she wrote that Raja, who became famous through Solomon Pappaiah’s debate forums, was now facing allegations of conducting caste enquiries even when served food with warmth abroad, and that such conduct deserved strong condemnation.

She further argued that caste discrimination practices were being carried overseas by sections of the Indian diaspora. Referring to a separate instance, she cited a video in which a Karnataka-origin woman abroad had spoken about being asked her caste in public, calling such enquiries degrading.

Her post also referred to activism in countries such as the United States and Australia against caste discrimination, including efforts by organisations aligned with Periyar–Ambedkar thought to raise the issue legally and politically.

She cited discussions at an international conference in Melbourne attended by senior lawyer Ravi Varma Kumar, who had suggested adding a question on caste discrimination and untouchability to immigration forms, alongside health and criminal background disclosures, so that those practising caste discrimination could be denied entry or deported.

She also referred to representations made to Australian authorities, including engagements with Senator David Shoebridge, and said caste had been included as a discrimination factor in Queensland following advocacy efforts.

In the interaction video, we see Arulmozhi Annamalai giving Australian Senator David Shoebridge suggestions for non-existent problems. She says, “I just want to put one suggestion. One of the speakers in the conference had suggested that the immigration form that you are asking whether have you traveled to this country, where youre affected with some disease like that, there can be one more question, are you practicing untouchability? Or are you practicing apathy?”

In response, the senator acknowledged the suggestion, with the discussion continuing as she said, “That can be included in question. Therefore, such persons will be prohibited from entering into Australia. That is an easy way to avoid the menace,” and further added, “Well, I would love to put that on.” The senator responded that immigration forms already contained extensive disclosures, noting, “Yeah, well, we, you’ve all filled in the form… Theres quite a lot of it. Theres quite a lot in there, isn’t it?”

Another person sitting in the room said, “Even if everyone answered in the negative, at least it will be creating a conscious…” Arulmozhi continued, “… but it will create a conscious that is binding on them as a condition to enter.”

The exchange also touched on enforcement, with the senator remarking, “And then if we find out they are a fascist… We can kick them out for lying on the immigration board.” Concluding the interaction, she urged, “So, so please try to implement it,” before both sides agreed to move forward.

Raja’s Explanation

After the controversy gained traction, Raja issued a video clarification denying the allegations.

He said, “We had gone to Atlanta in the United States for an event. At such events, many Tamil families bring food from their homes and serve it. Sometimes that food tastes even better than what we get in our own hometowns. I remember asking someone whether the food was Chettinad cuisine. But news is being spread that I asked about caste. I do not have such a small mindset to think about someone’s caste or community. ‘Tamil’ is the only caste I take pride in. There is no other caste. I have always spoken about unity.”

He said that there was only one caste he believed in, the Tamil caste, and added that by religion he was a Christian, and that beyond that he recognised no caste divisions.

Referring to the event, he said the organisers had arranged a meet-and-greet interaction where he had spoken about unity — saying Tamils should not divide themselves on caste or religious lines, that they were one people, and that unity alone would benefit Tamil society.

He continued, “The event there took place on Tuesday, February 3. Only after many days, on February 9, these messages are being spread on social media. If I had behaved in such a manner, those sisters could have questioned me then and there, or at least during the Pattimandram. Everyone there was happy. Despite work and cold weather, many people had attended. When we see the faces of those who come searching for us to serve food, they appear closer than even our relatives.”

Raja added that when people came searching for them to serve food with affection, their faces appeared closer than even relatives. He referred to the Tamil sentiment that those who feed you are “life-givers,” and spoke about how people had brought idli, dosa, pongal and other foods with great care, travelling distances and spending time to serve them.

He said it would be wrong to suggest that he would go and enquire about the caste of such people. He described the allegations as very painful and said he was stating with sincerity that he had never behaved in such a manner and never would. He appealed to people not to spread the misunderstanding and asked them to realise the truth, concluding his clarification with thanks.

Following the heavy criticism of Raja, the one who seemingly ignited the issue – Arulmozhi Annamalai, wrote on her Facebook asking people not to attack him personally.

She wrote, “Comrades, Pattimandram Raja has issued his clarification through a video. He has clearly stated that it was not his intention to ask about caste, that he does not have such a practice, and that wherever he goes he emphasises the idea that Tamils must unite as one.

At the same time, the experience and distress expressed by the sister who raised this allegation cannot be dismissed as false – the manner in which her brother has described it itself conveys her pain.

While explaining the issue, Raja has said that when the sister mentioned Karaikudi, he remembered asking whether the food was Chettinad cuisine based on its taste, and that she may have understood it as him asking whether she was Chettiar. He has stated that he did not ask with the intention of knowing her caste.

For more than 30 years he has travelled across Tamil pattimandram stages, and no one has ever accused him of having such an approach or behaving in this manner elsewhere. Even now, no one has come forward saying he behaved like this with them. Therefore, accepting his explanation and refraining from attacking him personally, the need of the hour is to continue the ideological struggle against caste.

It may be easy to advise the sister to move on from this issue. But to understand the exclusion and humiliation a person faces after revealing their caste, one must read the book “Caste in America.” Making people realise that this aggressively propagated caste mindset is an assault on human dignity and ensuring that younger generations in those communities refuse to follow such injustice is the only solution.

That is why, in my earlier post, I did not reduce this to a personal issue against Pattimandram Raja alone but also shared videos about the broader actions we must undertake and the work we have been doing. In the responses to that post, many pointed out how caste thinking manifests even among those who speak progressive ideas – in speech, conduct, and lifestyle. Let us subject those views to honest self-reflection.

Even asking someone which locality they lived in, out of affection that they are from our native place or city, often creates complications. After learning a person’s place of residence, even if both the questioner and the respondent treat it casually, the exchanged glances of those nearby can become uncomfortable. Many people have still not moved beyond this mindset.

In such a situation, the perspective of caste nationalists, who, in the name of identifying linguistic or regional background, ask what is wrong in enquiring about caste is dangerous. It is to counter this poison that the antidote of Periyar and Ambedkar’s thought becomes necessary.”

Source: ABPLive Tamil

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