Special thanks to Reality Check India
While researching this vast topic, I came across this short video where Aravind Neelakantan says
“Remember the Dravidian movement ideologically is a clone of the Nazi movement. The Nazis have their Jews, the Dravidianists have their Brahmins. The Nazis guide their Master Aryan theory the Dravidianists have their Master Dravidian theory. The Nazis saw Jews as the reason for all the problems in Germany, the Dravidianists see Brahmins as the cause of all the problems in Tamil Nadu. In fact, their ideologue, CN Annadurai, said this after the Nazi horror was exposed, sometime in the 1950s. CN Annadurai said, if we could follow the strategy of Adolf Hitler and eliminate Brahmins and if that would solve our problems, we could do that. But the real social reality is stopping us because the Aryan concepts are already there in all communities.”
Let us have a look at how Brahmins are depicted across Dravidian literature and “pop culture”. A Twitter handle @realitycheckind has been tracking this peddling of hate through Nazi-style propaganda for quite some time and we have been able to collate most of such depictions from their handle.
Basically, the caricatures of Tamil Brahmins are based on 3 points:
- They are fat, unshapely, and ugly
- They are scary
- They are “powerful” yet harmless but evil in nature
So, pushing the point that if there is a Brahmin around you, look at them with fear in your eyes because they are going to devour you. If we compare this with the Nazi propaganda, Jews were also described as ugly, evil, money-minded, powerful, and scary, not to forget their flowing beards – they stereotyped Brahmins as those with Shikha (tuft). This ultimately goes on to underscore what TN BJP President, K Annamalai had said in the ANI Podcast with Smitha Prakash – that Tamil Brahmins are comparable to Jews.
It takes guts to be in Tamil Nadu politics and say this openly, after the decades of systematic Brahmin hatred encouraged by the likes of Ramaswami Naickar. How I want this man to be the CM of Tamil Nadu some day! @annamalai_k pic.twitter.com/yIfaJofqcY
— Shefali Vaidya. 🇮🇳 (@ShefVaidya) May 30, 2023
Nazi-Style Propaganda
The Dravidianists have made use of what is known as the Picture Superiority Effect – a phenomenon in which imagery/pictures are remembered more than text or words.
Most of the Dravidian literature about Brahmins has a few things in common, especially on their cover images.
- The brahmin has a near-tonsured head with a tuft of hair at the back.
- He is fat, has a paunch, wears the dhoti, and of course, the janeu/sacred thread.
- In some cases, depending on the title and the type of content, the Brahmin is shown just next to Satan in terms of being evil.
Some other methodologies used include zoomorphism – depicting brahmins as animals. In this case, the brahmin is depicted as the 8-legged octopus. The inspiration seems to have come from (no prizes for guessing) the Nazi propaganda – as seen in the adjoining image.
https://twitter.com/realitycheckind/status/1633686952611577857
In a more recent instance, a Dravidian outfit named Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam shared this poster with the words:
Breaking: New Anti-Tamil-Brahmin toon by Dravidian-Tamil outfit spotted and recorded. pic.twitter.com/rOwn73rndO
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) March 8, 2023
“Do not take away the priestly right of all Hindus!
Don’t claim that the temple and God belong to the Brahmins!
Tamil Nadu government must intervene immediately!”
In this the Brahmin is seen climbing and standing atop a temple, with the key at his hip, indicating that Brahmins control temple wealth, yet another stereotype shown here is the Brahmin is holding Darbai grass in his hand. The Brahmin is shown to be fat and ugly, with a hateful expression on the face – Typical Nazi stereotyping model.
In this cartoon image shared by the handle which is said to be of someone named Kabilan,
In filth it will be found.
My analysis of the latest Dravidian anti-tamizh-brahmin cartoon follows.
This was shared by a leading #D account Kabilan – he was verified even before the new $$ rules. pic.twitter.com/Lz016pxEKc
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) March 7, 2023
the same stereotypes and depicting of physical features come through – the brahmin is shown as “blobs with zero musculature”. As per Reality Check India, this ‘picture superiority effect’ drills the fact into the heads of Tamilians that Brahmins are parasites that do not work, they just eat, and pile on the kilos.
Hence the Dravidian-Tamil Propaganda toons are extraordinarily detailed. Most TB have no choice but to be repelled and aghast .. but when you start to notice how much effort they put into it.
Extraordinary detail
Consider this one 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/XaGdT50fJc
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) March 7, 2023
And this is not seen in just one cartoon, but plenty of them and for a very long time thereby conditioning unaware Tamilians that Brahmins are indeed ugly and fat and keep consuming others’ resources.
Here are another set of tweets, do you notice how the Brahmin’s tuft is shown to be like a chameleon? (Zoomorphism)
Depiction of physiognomy of Tamizh Brahmins – as blobs with zero musculature has a purpose.
To use the 'picture superiority effect' theory and burn into Tamil brains that — 'these are parasites who dont work hence no musculature'
Toon after toon pic.twitter.com/JyRetQdA8G
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) March 7, 2023
The Dravidian-Tamil propaganda toons are extraordinarily detailed, observes Reality Check India. Most TamBrahms have no choice but to be repelled and aghast.
In this set of images shared by Suren, you can notice that in the left image, the brahmin’s tuft is morphed into a snake that will “kill” the poor non-brahmin.
Anti-Brahmin propaganda poster
Nazie era anti-Semite propaganda pic.twitter.com/QBgqoAbroF— Suren (@zeneraalstuff) September 20, 2017
Again, you can notice the big fat stomach, ugly Brahmin who supposedly holds control over the Vedas, Manu Smriti, etc. On the right is a Nazi-era anti semitic propaganda poster which also shows the Jews as money-minded, and controlling (see the whip in hand).
Coming to the next creative, in this tweet we can see the clear similarities between how Nazis and Dravidianists would like to treat Jews and Brahmins.
The Jew gets punched
The Brahmin is kicked pic.twitter.com/L8UQBvLyGO— Suren (@zeneraalstuff) September 21, 2017
On the left, Jews are punched whereas on the right Brahmins are kicked, the sentiments are the same.
Moving on to books i,e Propaganda Literature,
"Aariya maayai" (Aryan mAyA/illusions) by the very 1st Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: C. N. Annadurai…Cover image: brAhmaNa with evil smile pic.twitter.com/i7AaN1W5at
— āṅgīrasaśreṣṭha (@GhorAngirasa) September 21, 2017
This book “Aariya maayai” (Aryan mAyA/Aryan illusions) was written by the very 1st Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C. N. Annadurai. The cover image shows a Brahmin with an evil smile, reiterating the stereotyping and staying true to the Nazi propaganda by depicting TamBrahms as evil.
In this thread by GhorAngirasa, also covered by OpIndia, book covers of many Dravidian literature have been covered and they all have one thing in common – vilify Tamil Brahmins.
In the spirit of quite a few threads today, a curated thread on Dravidianist obsession with brAhmaNa-s
1. Book title: Money grabbing pArppanar-s (pArppanan was a noble word for brAhmaNas from saNGam texts; now used as a pejorative) pic.twitter.com/ijX6k7QuKW— āṅgīrasaśreṣṭha (@GhorAngirasa) August 8, 2018
The book titles in the thread read as follows:
- The Brahmins who snatched money
- Bitter truths/religious Scandals of Brahmins – depicting Vamana on the cover as the Brahmin
- Aryan Rule – where a Brahmin is depicted with a big tummy, the conspicuous sacred thread (janeu), holding the trident (trishul)which is a Hindu symbol, and the head of the Brahmin is shown as a snake.
- Brahmin’s Theism that destroyed Tamil Nadu – the cover image shows a Brahmin with a big fat tummy, and his tuft of hair (Shikha/kudumi) wrapped around the TN state like a snake
- Are Brahmins Tamils? – Cover image shows a few Vaishnavite men and a woman wearing traditional clothes
- Why did Brahmins oppose the British – this depicts Brahmins in the same oft-repeated fashion – pot belly, long Shikha, skinny hands, and another one with a turban and pot belly.
- Brahmin Nuisance – Depicts a weird-looking Brahmin – pointy Shikha, scary face, pot belly, skinny hands as if he is in control of the High Court
- A resounding answer/retaliation to the Brahmin fraud – a blobby-looking Brahmin with the usual marks is shown running away – ugly facial features, lack of musculature
- Brahmins didn’t change, will not change, shudras and ashudras have changed – the brahmin in this cover pic is shown to have a huge belly, a serpentine janeu strangling the non-brahmin, holding the trishul and has a Satan-type face.
- Brahmins’ plots and the downfall of Kings – The cover image shows a Brahmin with an evil smile and shows a king-like figure in his palm indicating that Brahmins controlled the kings and kingdoms
- Why I am not a Hindu by Kancha Iliah (Tamil version) shows a pot-bellied Brahmin with an evil smile, an ugly face, and the sacred thread (janeu)shown to strangle the non-brahmin.
- A cartoon from an online essay titled Shankara Matham – Den for terrorism – the cover pic insults the then Math head, Shri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal depicting him with weapons.
- Brahmin gang entering the battlefield as a group. We will reclaim Thillai, we will dismantle Brahmin hegemony – the image shows prominent personalities from VHP – Ashok Singhal, Hindu Munnani head, Rama Gopalan, and other political personalities such as Cho, Jayalalithaa, Subramaniam Swamy, and the brahmin is shown as Lucifer and wears a janeu, has a key indicating temple control.
- Purohitas’ reign – Shows a Brahmin (3%) standing on a non-brahmin (97%) and using the whip on him and indicates that even when Brahmins are at 3%, they can subjugate the rest of the population.
Some book titles without demeaning images include:
- If Englishmen are strangers, who or what are brahmins (parpans)?
- Was Raja Raja Chozhan a slave of the Brahmins?
- Brahmins who raised a commotion against social revolution
- Aryan-Brahmin plot to usurp temple administration
Going over a few other tweets on this propaganda which relies on imagery to drive the so-called “evilness” of Brahmins into other Tamilians’ heads, we see this:
pArppAn's tuft (shikhA) is the NEET exam policy through which he destroys the lives, dreams, hopes & aspirations of non-pArppAns. pic.twitter.com/iqaOsEhC8J
— āṅgīrasaśreṣṭha (@GhorAngirasa) August 9, 2018
A Brahmin priest’s (purohit) tuft of hair/Shikha, the tuft morphs into the words NEET and ends with a stethoscope indicating that Brahmins are the ones for whom NEET was made and ensures they get their degrees.
you can see creative re-use of Brahmin stereotypical caricatures by Tamilian (Drav) high frequency propaganda accounts.
this meme
Repeat : #D is a police matter. https://t.co/xpC13qwC0S pic.twitter.com/5SPowQRpq6
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) March 2, 2023
You can see creative re-use of Brahmin stereotypical caricatures by Tamilian (Dravidian) high-frequency propaganda accounts.
this is a vile canard campaign spread by DMK IT Wing in comic format.
as good as Amar Chitra Katha (Tamilian-D version)
(notice expressions) pic.twitter.com/ZcW0rqEyRS
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) February 22, 2023
Look at how well produced DMK(Dravidian) hate propaganda is. Here is an example of a scratchy toon made by NonTamils (Hindi I think) but a Tamil put the caption separately.
Notice :
Hastily done
Amateurish
Leaves very little impact in brain
Free (no funding..) pic.twitter.com/bcVxu01sOK— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) February 20, 2023
Compare these Dravidian propaganda toons with this image above. Look at how well-produced DMK(Dravidian) hate propaganda is. This cartoon is hastily done, feels amateurish, and leaves very little impact on the brain, it is available freely (has no form of funding).
When we say this kind of peddling of hate is institutionalised and well-funded, we mean it. Here is a verified DMK IT Wing official handle shares a cartoon similar to Amar Chitra Katha
Verified official DMK IT Wing creates and shares a vicious propaganda comic demonizing Tamizh Brahmins.
As I said this is state sponsored. Ultimately a police matter.
(( will share panel by panel translation )) @dhume @ShashiTharoor https://t.co/tcfus1bhb6 pic.twitter.com/339BPef46k
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) February 15, 2023
Vicious propaganda demonising the Tamizh Brahmins.
for a constitutional "rights" lawyers with an interest in linkages to power #Drav cases are a goldmine.But you arent "plugged in" to Tamil.The person next to you is the same person here.. you are knowingly or unknowingly allying with anti-semitic hatred couched as social justice pic.twitter.com/q915EsYtEa
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) November 10, 2022
The next one shows VCK chief Thirumavalavan pulling the Shikha of a Brahmin – that he is superior to the Brahmin.
Some more hate propaganda material you ask, here you go!
Two new anti-Brahmin propaganda cartoons produced by Drav-Tamils in wake of the #EWS case
1: Sambuka dripping blood on to a judge looking executioner
2: fat B – copied directly from Nazi stereotypes. why not give EWS to that OBC skinny man? pic.twitter.com/oY3f6Wi4pu
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) November 10, 2022
Brahmins are shown as discriminatory and they rise to the top by stamping and climbing on non-brahmins.
In this tweet, we see Nattu aka Natarajan the cricketer is seen to be “dismantling Brahminism” in the cricket world.
This is straight out of Dravidian playbook. They did this with Nattu.. as well. both are Tamilians. pic.twitter.com/EZ68JN7Pty
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) September 5, 2022
The stumps are marked “The parochial Sanatana Dharma social structure” and an ugly obese Brahmin in the image who has been “dismantled”.
an outpouring by Dravidians 😍😍- lots of new toonz for me.
Just observe how well produced they are. Exactly like the nazi toons – ths isnt amateurs scribbling. This comes from top. https://t.co/uVfZyVwX0t pic.twitter.com/xJFpfJJYN5
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) November 9, 2022
Here’s how they show that Brahmins are cunning and the Dravidians propagate the fact that EWS quota was created so Brahmins will have a chance at beating reservation.
Good morning Tamils (Dravidians) 🖤😍😍
This criminal passion is the best justification for EWS. https://t.co/vB6DLeQWOV pic.twitter.com/20DU7xbS7A
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) November 9, 2022
Want something more on the Supreme Court being occupied by Brahmins, here you go!
In this image, they use the Brahmin’s head to morph the Supreme Court claiming
இத தானே நீ மக்களுக்கு புரியாத மேரி சொல்லுற?
(you really want to say this right? just be direct ) pic.twitter.com/1kZCsuoXBD
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) March 2, 2023
that it is the Brahmins who are occupying the highest posts and are influencing judgements. If only that were to happen!
new arrival pic.twitter.com/tWeZ3iRonW
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) November 7, 2022
This image claims that the Supreme Court judges are all Brahmins. Says there are 26 judges in India’s top court of which 23 are Brahmins and 2 OBCs and only 1 from the SC/ST category. Here again, there is a use of Zoomorphism – the brahmin is morphed into a horse with an ugly face.
Some more Supreme Court based propaganda material for you:
New Delhi (India) bjp unable to prevent these existential moments. Dravidian can never lose the EWS case because even if the verdict goes against, they get to go to town with 'uchikudumi mandram' (tuft court) – D fuels CON. see? pic.twitter.com/TCUJzQ262W
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) November 6, 2022
This image depicts the Supreme Court in the form of the Shikha of a Brahmin with Vaishnavite symbols. The text written reads, it is not the Supreme Court, it is Tuft/Shikha (Uchikudumi Mandram) court indicating Brahmins are controlling the courts and interfering with justice.
Check out this collection of tweets indicating how the Supreme Court is run by Brahmins.
you have no idea of the potency of D propaganda.
Supreme Court wading into this 'freebie' issue against a force without narrow framing, precise definitions and red lines. only a #core court can take these things on. @TweetinderKaul @gautambhatia88 @vikramhegde79 pic.twitter.com/g2EzmfUh80
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) August 23, 2022
The same typical imagery all across the pictures.
Zoomorphism, you ask, here you go!
First of all lets make two assumptions
1) that there is a criminal provision IPC 153 that is widely used
2) we also accept this is not applicable to anti Brahmin hate speech perpetrated by Tamil-Dravidians.* abhorrent but not objectionable* pic.twitter.com/yY1cr7iiR2
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) November 2, 2022
Dravidian-Tamil organisation says in this anti-brahmin caricature poster which again uses zoomorphism, “Brahmins Octopus encroached govt depts we condemn. Nov 7 Siege of Shastri Bhavan octopus tentacles features SBI, Indian Army, UPSC, SC.”
Some more…
well I bring good news my Drav-brother 🖤🖤 I am in the polar opposite state of a meltdown
we are going to show the world how similar your patho obsession with one group is to anti-semitism. 😍😍
this time you ran into an OG Tamil fox.. pic.twitter.com/eazd28lheX
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) October 10, 2022
Depicts Brahmins as worms (Zoomorphism)– showcasing Brahmins as animals/insects is one popular way of propagating hate and a favourite of the Nazi propagandists. The image on the left titled, “What can be done of this germ”, depicts Sadagopan Jeeyar as a worm/centipede and he says, “Chant Om Namo Narayana 108 times, Corona will disappear” On the right, you can see the Nazi propaganda against Jews depicting them as worms in a similar fashion.
EVR in Dravidian hate propaganda
What do you test ?
– persistent and repeated messaging
– creative high quality propaganda material
– caricatures and stereotypes
– nonbrahmin tamil elites refusal to distance themselves
– involvement of the very top leadership pic.twitter.com/dn7dUPoBzB— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) November 2, 2022
One such imagery shows EVR holding Brahmin by the ear – a Dravidian wet dream.
Next up, Pondicherry State President of Dravidar Kazhagam (ideological parent of DMK) explaining Dravidianism in actual form. In this tweet, we see a brahmin (on the left) shown to be a “pest” while EVR is shown as the “pesticide”. That is how deep-seated the hatred is among Dravidianists.
Pondicherry State President of Dravidar Kazhagam (ideological parent of DMK) explaining #D in actual form.
How does it read when translated out of Tamil? 🖤🖤 pic.twitter.com/vh46FYlc73
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) October 24, 2022
And some more…
speaking of orgs that must be banned and would be banned in any civilized country is one which produces hate propaganda like this in 21st century.
that is my take on #PFI ban – a second order issue for me. cc @ADL pic.twitter.com/8TwiGCKE7s
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) September 28, 2022
This one shows a Brahmin whose legs are tied to a walking stick indicative of EVR and the Shikha/tuft is also in the control of EVR signalling that Brahmins can no longer do what they wish and Dravidian ideology has curbed their freedom, the image wants to communicate the point “EVR’s walking stick keeps the Brahmin under control”.
How can we forget Manu Smriti!
such absurd fiery debates in Dravidian usually degrade into anti tamizhbrahmin propaganda material like this.
creation of this material is the goal.
"you are called prostitute son by A.Raja do you hear it or not" pic.twitter.com/qmDykHZgXc
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) September 22, 2022
A repeat of the tuft strangling the non-brahmins is used here. The cartoon mentions A Raja’s speech where he says Manu Smriti says Shudras are children of prostitutes. The Brahmin here is shown to repeat that to the non-brahmin and is tightening his grip on him with the tuft. This is very similar to the saturation canards of blood libel – a canard that Jews used the blood of Christian children for Passover rituals, a canard that could not be shaken off for centuries similar to Tamil Brahmins poured lead into ears of Dravidians’ ears if they asked for ‘education’.
In this tweet, we can see 2 similar images, the Dravidians just borrowed the content and replaced the Capitalist oppressor with a Tamil Brahmin; this cartoon is used in the context of EWS pretty recently.
the Dravs just replaced the Capitalist oppressor with TamizhBrahmin -🖤🖤😍😍
this toon is used in #EWS context .. the DTamils are in Supreme Court whipping the clueless BJP mitrons on the const amendment. This is so beautiful,natural law at work. pic.twitter.com/DhbDmvQY3r
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) September 18, 2022
Inspiration from Fips
Jews were shown to be obese, money-minded, stomping on others, and dangerous by Fips (Ruprecht cartoonist for Der Sturmer), they were never shown with musculature, the same propaganda style is used for Tamil Brahmins too – very chubby, harmless yet capable of violence.
Fips (Ruprecht cartoonist for Der Sturmer) never showed Jw musculature. but you can see how #D is one step better. Use extreme stereotypes for TamizhBrahmins (both very chubby and very muscled, harmless yet capable of violence)
Drav-Tamils
A criminal passion in 2022 pic.twitter.com/fZdQ7IXfLM
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) November 14, 2022
In this tweet, the vivid characterisation, and clear images like in Amar Chitra Katha comics is to ensure it gets ingrained in the readers’ brains about the vile character of Brahmins. The language used is the typical Brahmin slang that is spoken in TN by Tamil Brahmins. And the characters are saying “Our kids were beaten by the SC(Panchama) kids”, and the other says, “Yes, that’s how it was posted in our newspaper”.
propaganda caricatures have to be **vivid** sensational shocking. Arouse inner disgust and physically do something.
No one in 21st century does it like Tamils(Drav) after Fips (cartoonist of Der Sturmer)
Would you agree gentlemen? @mkumaramangalam @kartipc pic.twitter.com/Kww4EyxeNW
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) February 22, 2023
The handle says that propaganda caricatures have to be **vivid** sensational and shocking, they need to arouse inner disgust and physically do something – this is something 21st century Dravidians (Tamils) have become adept at after Fips (cartoonist of Der Sturmer).
Left is by Philipp Ruprecht (Fips) prolific cartoonist of Der Sturmer. Right by #D.
You can see the pattern. fat TB man escorting nubile Dravidian woman while a D male makes way. This 'sons of concubines' trending today in Tamil twitter is a similar canard. pic.twitter.com/TFnuddunFU
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) September 13, 2022
The image on the left is by Philipp Ruprecht (Fips) , prolific cartoonist of Der Sturmer and the one on the right is by a Dravidian. The pattern is similar – a fat man escorting a nubile woman, in the second image. Such is the imagery that has been created not now, but for a very long time and it makes it easy for Dravidian loyalists to badmouth and abuse Tamil Brahmins.
This one is a later work – probably less than 20 yrs old. A straight lift from Nzi anti-semitic propaganda. Use of under light to enhance sinister effect Notice Tuft flying in background. pic.twitter.com/TH9sfqkvBr
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) October 22, 2022
This artwork is a straight lift from Nazi anti-semitic propaganda.
Next we will see how they like to sexualize our Gods and Goddesses in such ways in an attempt to pull Brahmins down.
I think many are afraid of the Dravidian technique because it tests you
what you mean to say is : Nothing is protected or holy. All are game for any type of attack.I agree
'why did you make your gods look like humans' is an odd line to rest a secular free speech principle upon pic.twitter.com/mKhI8xHF6h
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) July 22, 2022
Moving on, check out how Dravidian pop culture depicts Brahmins and Baniyas from UP in their content. Here we see a Brahmin/Baniya taking the lion’s share of govt job opportunities (the pipe) while the oppressed get only what trickles down.
Scary Brahmin
Scary Jew (from 1940's The Eternal jew) pic.twitter.com/N0ZamzEkhX— Suren (@zeneraalstuff) September 21, 2017
And in this bottom tweet, compare the scary Brahmin and the scary Jew from 1940s The Eternal Jew.
Here comes Ambedkar!
4) Cartoon published in Shankar’s Weekly in December 1949.
Dr Ambedkar holding the hand of a little girl named Hindu code bill and leading her towards the Parliament and a Brahmin holding an axe in hand hiding behind a wall, while women from the terrace try to save the girl. pic.twitter.com/CBWgsosITP
— Advaid അദ്വൈത് (@Advaidism) April 9, 2018
Cartoon published in Shankar’s Weekly in December 1949. Dr. Ambedkar holds the hand of a little girl named Hindu code bill and leads her towards the Parliament and a Brahmin holding an axe in hand hiding behind a wall, while women from the terrace try to save the girl. You can notice that the Brahmin is once again unshapely, ugly, half-clothed, and violent or evil.
In this tweet, Reality Check India talks about the caricature artist, Shankar Pillai. In this image, the Brahmin is shown to be patriarchal, and you see the same stereotypes – blob (no muscles, fat, ugly). This cartoon also indicates how Sanatana Dharma, controlled by Brahmins, is dictating the terms for women especially.
Shankar PIllai was among the pioneers of grotesque caricatures of Brahmins via cartoons.
there was no need for this for example :
Notice early usage of "Sanatana" Today Radical Non/Anti-Brahmin Tamil politics openly states Destruction of Sanatana Dharma is its goal. https://t.co/6Jne6D9z2l pic.twitter.com/4BsK4IEDJF
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) March 2, 2023
Shankar Pillai is said to be among the “pioneers” of grotesque caricatures of Brahmins via cartoons.
Sengol, Aadeenams and Brahmins (How could anyone make a connection?)
In the wake of the Sengol installation in the new Parliament (and subsequent controversy with regard to Modi’s sashtanga namaskar to the Sengol and the Aadeenams, a tweet was shared by the followers of Dravidian ideology (which was removed after massive reporting)
Pay attention to the art. Tamil anti-B / anti-H polemics are very well thought out and appeal to primal.
Shows Atheenams standing at distance as a Brahmin is on stage with the Senkol pic.twitter.com/IqQyAVQUZ0
— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) May 29, 2023
This image seems to have crossed all levels of decency in depicting Brahmins/Hindus.
Tamil society exhibits unique hate targeting “Tamizh Brahmins,” akin to anti-Semitism. Non-Brahmins distance themselves from this hate, while the state fails to protect against hate speech. The power of Dravidian ideology lies in unchecked hate propagated by a few venomous accounts and the crowd, amplified and encouraged by the state apparatus.
What more proof does one need to show that Tamil Brahmins were and are being subjected to the same type of treatment by the Dravidianists that Nazis accorded to the Jews? Does it require putting them in the gas chamber to prove that a genocide occurred? A sustained propaganda aided and funded to the hilt by the state machinery (political parties in TN) and propagated by their ilk has caused a continuous exodus of Tamil Brahmins from TN to other states and other countries for decades. This peddling of vicious propaganda against the Tamil Brahmins of all ages and sizes, right from school up until one joins college and much worse, at the workplace too, has resulted in the community having to live in a society that incessantly hounds them for being part of a particular lineage.
(Hridya is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Chennai.)
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