Special Articles Tamil Nadu

How I.N.D.I. Ally DMK, Its Ideologue EVR And Its Partners Have Abused Lord Ram Over The Years

January 17, 2024
The Commune

With anticipation, joy, and unwavering devotion, people from every corner of the country eagerly await the inauguration of the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya on 22 January 2024. Prime Minister Modi, having observed an 11-day fast leading up to the event, urged the nation to join in this momentous occasion by lighting a diya at home on 22  January be celebrated as Diwali across India.

In the wake of this event, we witness a series of rejections from I.N.D.I alliance and parties declining participation in the temple inauguration, including notable names such as Congress, DMK, Communist parties, and others.

In Tamil Nadu, the DMK has historically been vocal, particularly on Hindus their festivals and deities, consistently expressing strong aversion towards Lord Ram. Instances of their intolerance towards the Hindu religion have been evident after the Supreme Court’s 2019 judgment, allocating the Ram Janmabhoomi for Hindus based on the ASI report, seems to have intensified their discontent.

Adding fuel to the fire as the successful construction of the temple progresses, their resistance appears unwavering, highlighting their continued reluctance to accept the developments. 

But the DMK’s contempt for Lord Ram and Hinduism in general has a long history. Right from its parent body Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) created by EV Ramasamy (EVR hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers to the DMK, the party and its leaders have aligned themselves with anti-Hindu and often maligning Lord Ram. In simpler terms, the party’s journey evolved from “Ondre Kulam Oruvane Devan” to “Sanadhana Ozhipu Manadu.” (One Community, One God to Eradication of Sanadhanam Conclave).

Here are a few instances of DK-DMK’s tirade against Lord Ram.

EVR’s “Notes On Ramayana”

EVR had written an abusive commentary on Ramayana in which he slandered Lord Ram and Goddess Sita. The book which is read by Dravidianists to this day, calls Sita as a “bajari” (a loud-mouthed woman having sexual relations with a number of partners on a casual basis) in the chapter titled “Seethayin Bajarithanam” (Sita’s Bajari-ness). EVR makes a slanderous interpretation of how Dasaratha’s wives conceived. He also distorts the epic saying that Seetha went with Ravana of her own willing and “enjoyed” with Ravana.

His other book on Ramayana titled “Ramayana Paathirangal” is another abusive commentary on the Hindu epic giving commentaries on each of the characters. EVR characterization revolves around sex and money. He portrays Dasaratha as being consumed by passion, Sita showing excessive fondness for jewelry, Laksmana harboring desires to have sexual relations with his brother’s wife Sita, and so on. He accuses Rama of bad behaviour through out the book.

EVR’s work inspired a play called Keemayanam created and played by MR Radha and other Dravidianists in which Rama was portrayed as a drunkard and Sita as a woman of loose character.

He also said that the Tamil’s attitude towards Ramayana (since it holds a dear place in their hearts with Tamil poet Kamba Ramayanam being another famed version of the epic), was slavish.

EVR Rally At Marina Beach 1956

On 1 August 1956, EVR intended to lead his followers in burning images of Lord Ram at Marina beach. Where he perceived the Ramayana as a narrative depicting a war between Aryans and Dravidians an interpretation devoid of any factual basis. On the day of the planned day of protest, EVR was arrested by police, but his followers proceeded with the demonstration and later they were dispersed by Police who brandished their batons, resulting in the arrest of around 890 people either before or during the event. Periyar was released after two and a half hours.

Garlanding Lord Ram With Slippers 

During the Salem conference of the Dravidar Kazhagam in 1971, EV Ramasamy the founder not only struck the portrait of Lord Rama with slippers but also adorned it with a garland made of slippers. Various versions of this incident exist, with conflicting claims. 

Tamil film actor Rajinikanth stirred controversy when he stated that, during a rally in Salem district in 1971 attended by EV Ramasamy, “naked” images of Lord Rama and his consort Sita were paraded with a garland of slippers. He mentioned that only Thuglak magazine reported this incident critically

Later The Hindu claimed that an article titled “Demonstration against obscene tableaux” published on 25 January 1971 reported on the ‘Superstition Eradication Conference’ organized by the DK. It mentioned that the tableaux included obscene pictures, and a 10-foot-long image of Lord Rama was carried on a vehicle, with people beating it with chappals. EVR was noted to be at the rear of the procession, and an image of Lord Rama cut out in wood was set on fire at the end. The conference passed resolutions, one of which requested the government to ensure that coveting another man’s wife is not made an offense under the Indian Penal Code.

Ravana Leela A Drama 1974

Tamil Nadu witnessed its inaugural Ravana Leela in 1974, a year following EVR’s demise. The Dravida Kazhagam orchestrated the event at its headquarters, led by Maniyammai, EVR’s wife. This initiative aligned with EVR’s expressed desire in his notes before his 1973 passing, advocating for an annual Ravana Leela in response to the Ram Leela tradition.

In 1974, letters were sent to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, urging her to stop Ram Leela celebrations in Tamil Nadu. Maniyammai, in one such letter, argued that Gandhi’s participation in Ramlila, burning the effigy of the Dravidian hero Ravanan, was provocative and against secular principles. She warned of mass effigy burnings of Rama and Gandhi throughout Tamil Nadu if the act continued. Gandhi responded, emphasizing the universal significance of Ramayana, denying any racial connotation in Ramleela celebrations. She urged against politicizing the events.

No Historical Proof Of Ram

In 2007 the plan Sethusamudram project was withdrawn due to technical difficulties of shallow water. At the backdrop, Karunanidhi rhetorically asked, “Who is this Raman? In which engineering college did he study and become a civil engineer? When did he build this so-called bridge? Is there any evidence for this?“.

During the discussion on the Sethusamudram canal project in the state legislative assembly, CPI-M’s V P Nagaimaali highlighted the significance of the project, considering it a longstanding aspiration for the people, especially those in south Tamil Nadu. Numerous protests had been organized by the public advocating for its implementation. However, the Union government, citing ‘Ramar Palam’ (Ram Sethu) and invoking the name of Lord Ram, sidelined the project. Nagaimaali criticized the characterization of certain aspects as historical when they are, in reality, “fiction, imaginations, and beliefs,” attempting to influence public perception. He emphasized that fiction, imagination, and beliefs should not be misconstrued as history. 

Lord Ram is a Myth

In response to the invitation extended to PM Modi for the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, DMK leader TKS Elangovan expressed his views, stating, “What can I say? They have demolished history and replaced it with mythology. Any country should take pride in its history and be knowledgeable about it. Ram’s birth is a myth, a story from Ramayana. It is literature. They aim to substitute history with mythology, and that is what the BJP is attempting to do. With these people in power, what can we expect?… He wants to exploit it as a political tool. His interest is not in Ram. The BJP does not view Ram as a priority; instead, their political gain takes precedence, and they are leveraging Ram for their political interests.“

 

Pugazh Gandhi, National DMK spokesperson in the Times Now TV debate stated, “Let me put it in a single line, even if Ram comes and contests here (Tamil Nadu), people may fall on his feet, people may light diyas, etc but people will not vote for him. That is the rationalist viewpoint of the people of Tamil Nadu under the Dravidian movement.”

“We Do Not Know Lord Ram”: Congress MP Jothimani

Jothimani, a Congress MP representing Karur and a member of the I.N.D.I. Alliance, claimed to be unaware of Lord Ram during an interview with Padmaja Joshi of Times Now. She remarked, “I’m from Tamil Nadu, and I dont know about Ram because we are indigenous people. We follow or ‘ancestral worship.’ ask anybody in Tamil Nadu there no Ram temple Every week ill go to my temple because my clan goes to that temple.“

“Rama A Figment Of Imagination”: VCK MP Thol. Thirumavalavan

Speaking at a public meeting in December 2017 on the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary, VCK head Thol. Thirumavalavan had said: “Lord Rama is a figment of imagination. There is no truth that he ever lived. The demand to build a temple for him on the place where Babri Masjid was pulled down is ridiculous and uncalled for.”

Additionally, during a television debate, he made a statement, “The famous Hindu temples in Srirangam and Kancheepuram were built on Buddhist shrines after demolishing them and hence these Hindu temples should be demolished.”

Lord Ram Is A Drunkard And Sita Is A Prostitute: DK Head Veeramani

The ideological mentor of DMK, K. Veeramani had also called Lord Rama a drunkard and Goddess Sita a prostitute.

Jai Sri Ram Slogan In Cricket Stadium

DMK scion and Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin had voiced criticism over the chanting of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans to taunt a Pakistani cricketer during the India-Pakistan World Cup match in Ahmedabad.  

Even today, Dravidianists and DMK supporters in their social media abuse Lord Ram day in and day out. Their spewing of hate against Lord Ram goes unchecked by the MK Stalin-led DMK government.

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