In a recent press meet, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party Chief, Annamalai, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a “Tamilian by heart.” Defying conventional notions tied to geographical birthplaces, Annamalai argued that PM Modi’s affinity towards the Tamil language is sufficient to classify him as a Tamilian.
“PM Modi need not have to be born in Tamil Nadu to consider him a Tamilian,” Annamalai declared, adding that, “All who have an affinity towards the Tamil language are Tamilians,” advocating for a broader and inclusive definition of Tamil identity.
Annamalai stated, “We call people who have migrated to Tamil Nadu from Ongole as Tamilians. Then why can’t a person born in Gujarat, who loves Tamil, be called a Tamilian?”.
The remark was a sly jibe at the late DMK patriarch Karunanidhi whose ancestors hailed from Ongole in present day Andhra Pradesh.
Annamalai posed questions regarding the authenticity of Tamil identity within the ruling DMK class. “How many of the 35 Tamil Nadu ministers belong to Tamil Nadu? How many DMK ministers speak Tamil at their homes?” he questioned.
Annamalai concluded by suggesting that the entire landscape of Tamil Nadu politics could be upended by delving further into these questions.
Here is a compilation of few instances where Prime Minister Modi substantiated Annamalai’s assertions:
1. PM Modi inaugurated the Kashi Tamil Sangamam
2. PM Modi declared the establishment of the Subramania Bharati Chair of Tamil Studies at BHU.
3. Tamil Nadu received significant attention in PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat broadcasts.
4. PM Modi incorporated quotes from Tamil poet Kambar into his speeches.
5. PM Modi engaged in a conversation in Tamil with a barber from Thoothukudi.
6.PM Modi quotes Avvaiyyar in Chennai
7.PM Modi quotes Sage Thiruvalluvar at Ladakh
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