It would be hard to control one’s laughter if someone says that the present DMK chief MK Stalin is the only leader in the party who has the potential and the personality to lead the party, in the absence of the patriarch Karunanidhi. Even their own party cadres would find themselves struggling to control their chuckle. But as fate would have it, party cadres find themselves defending the undefendable.
However, if one were to say that A. Raja is a knowledgeable man, talented and a capable leader, it would find resonance till the last cadre in the party. Recently, everyone from the grassroots of the DMK celebrated A. Raja’s recent interview with News 7 Tamil. Social media was abuzz that A. Raja would make a good leader and should be given at least the post of General Secretary or Treasurer.
In that interview, A. Raja had mentioned that Hinduism preaches and perpetuates inequalities and does not accept social justice. He had said that he may be a Hindu in the eyes of law but cannot accept Hinduism as it had prevented the upward social and economic mobility of his ancestors.
These criticisms on Hinduism are not new and have been busted not just by numerous scholars but by practitioners themselves. But to think of A.Raja’s argument, these criticisms are applicable to the DMK, a party which claims to be the flag bearer of social justice.
The DMK, which was started in 1949, has never had a person from the Scheduled Caste community as its head. While it is understandable that it would not have been possible for someone to rise beyond Karunanidhi’s stature until he was alive, it is pertinent to ask what prevents the party from appointing a Scheduled Caste person as its leader now.
Does the DMK think that people belonging to the Scheduled Caste are not fit to helm the affairs? Is there any other leader from the community who is more qualified than A. Raja? If leadership is given on the basis of merit, what merits does Stalin have apart from being Karunanidhi’s son? Is there any other candidate having more merits than Mr. Raja?
What is the philosophy that prevents the rise of Raja in the party? Here too it is Hinduism that is preventing the rise of Raja is it? Forget being appointed President, why haven’t Raja been given the post of General Secretary or Treasurer?
Will Raja who targets one particular religion and community, at least open his mouth and register his disappointment for being side-lined with a post of ‘Deputy’ General Secretary?
The DMK’s ill treatment of Dalits has been called out by various leaders. Sathyavani Muthu in 1974 resigned from her ministerial position and left the DMK to start her own party Thazhthapattor Munnetra Kazhagam. She would later join the AIADMK and serve as Central Minister in Charan Singh government.
Very recently, we had the current BJP Tamil Nadu Vice President VP Duraiswamy leaving the party citing that the party acted against the interest of Dalits.
The DMK’s hatred for Dalits has been coming out in the open for quite some time. Speaking at an event in the DMK youth wing headquarters in February of this year, the DMK Rajya Sabha MP RS Bharathi had said it was due to the alms (picchai) given by the Dravidian Movement that persons from SC community became judges. Former Union Minister and current Lok Sabha MP Dayanidhi Maran in May 2020, made unscrupulous remarks against Dalits while addressing a press conference.
And how can we forget the credible allegations of the DMK grabbing Panchami lands given to Scheduled Caste Community to set up its mouth piece Murasoli’s office.
But, Mr. Raja who not even raised a finger on these instances has the impudence to bad mouth Hindus and Hinduism and claim that Hinduism propagates inequality! Is there a bigger example of double standards than this?
What the DMK has done essentially is it has established a caste hierarchy in the party. President – Isai Vellalar, General Secretary – Vanniyar, Treasurer – Thevar, and out of pity and the fear of facing questions from its critics has given the post of ‘Deputy’ General Secretary to Mr. A. Raja.
Mr. Raja who speaks loudly in his characteristic style about Hinduism can’t even murmur to express his disappointment. He won’t be able to do it against the next golden boy of the DMK – Udhayanidhi Stalin. There will come a day when Mr. Raja has to stand with folded hands in front of Udhayanidhi Stalin. For eternity, people like Raja will have to remain subservient to that family and they will be able to shamelessly remain so for the sake of the crumbs that the family throws for them.
Mr. Raja is absolutely wrong when it comes to Hinduism. Inequalities exist in all societies and what is special about Hinduism is that there exists space to voice out against any form of injustice. When Adi Sankara after taking a bath in the Ganges in Varanasi saw a member of the Chandala caste coming along his way, he had told the Chandala to move away to which the Chandala asked “To which are you referring as untouchable, this body or the Self?” Adi Sankara prostrated at the feet of Chandala then and there and stood corrected. He revered the Chandala to be a Guru and came out with the ‘Maneeshaa Panchakam’ that stresses that distinctions based on social, moral, ethical have no relevance whatsoever in pursuing knowledge and God.
Mr. Raja should first try and end caste inequalities and injustice within his party before going about sharing his wisdom on Hinduism. There are enough reformers within the Hindu fold working to lift the downtrodden people establishing real social justice unlike the pseudo-social justice that Mr. Raja and the DMK propagates.
A Raja made ‘Deputy’ General Secretary of DMK: Is this also ‘alms’ given by the Dravidian movement?
It would be hard to control one’s laughter if someone says that the present DMK chief MK Stalin is the only leader in the party who has the potential and the personality to lead the party, in the absence of the patriarch Karunanidhi. Even their own party cadres would find themselves struggling to control their chuckle. But as fate would have it, party cadres find themselves defending the undefendable.
However, if one were to say that A. Raja is a knowledgeable man, talented and a capable leader, it would find resonance till the last cadre in the party. Recently, everyone from the grassroots of the DMK celebrated A. Raja’s recent interview with News 7 Tamil. Social media was abuzz that A. Raja would make a good leader and should be given at least the post of General Secretary or Treasurer.
In that interview, A. Raja had mentioned that Hinduism preaches and perpetuates inequalities and does not accept social justice. He had said that he may be a Hindu in the eyes of law but cannot accept Hinduism as it had prevented the upward social and economic mobility of his ancestors.
These criticisms on Hinduism are not new and have been busted not just by numerous scholars but by practitioners themselves. But to think of A.Raja’s argument, these criticisms are applicable to the DMK, a party which claims to be the flag bearer of social justice.
The DMK, which was started in 1949, has never had a person from the Scheduled Caste community as its head. While it is understandable that it would not have been possible for someone to rise beyond Karunanidhi’s stature until he was alive, it is pertinent to ask what prevents the party from appointing a Scheduled Caste person as its leader now.
Does the DMK think that people belonging to the Scheduled Caste are not fit to helm the affairs? Is there any other leader from the community who is more qualified than A. Raja? If leadership is given on the basis of merit, what merits does Stalin have apart from being Karunanidhi’s son? Is there any other candidate having more merits than Mr. Raja?
What is the philosophy that prevents the rise of Raja in the party? Here too it is Hinduism that is preventing the rise of Raja is it? Forget being appointed President, why haven’t Raja been given the post of General Secretary or Treasurer?
Will Raja who targets one particular religion and community, at least open his mouth and register his disappointment for being side-lined with a post of ‘Deputy’ General Secretary?
The DMK’s ill treatment of Dalits has been called out by various leaders. Sathyavani Muthu in 1974 resigned from her ministerial position and left the DMK to start her own party Thazhthapattor Munnetra Kazhagam. She would later join the AIADMK and serve as Central Minister in Charan Singh government.
Very recently, we had the current BJP Tamil Nadu Vice President VP Duraiswamy leaving the party citing that the party acted against the interest of Dalits.
The DMK’s hatred for Dalits has been coming out in the open for quite some time. Speaking at an event in the DMK youth wing headquarters in February of this year, the DMK Rajya Sabha MP RS Bharathi had said it was due to the alms (picchai) given by the Dravidian Movement that persons from SC community became judges. Former Union Minister and current Lok Sabha MP Dayanidhi Maran in May 2020, made unscrupulous remarks against Dalits while addressing a press conference.
And how can we forget the credible allegations of the DMK grabbing Panchami lands given to Scheduled Caste Community to set up its mouth piece Murasoli’s office.
But, Mr. Raja who not even raised a finger on these instances has the impudence to bad mouth Hindus and Hinduism and claim that Hinduism propagates inequality! Is there a bigger example of double standards than this?
What the DMK has done essentially is it has established a caste hierarchy in the party. President – Isai Vellalar, General Secretary – Vanniyar, Treasurer – Thevar, and out of pity and the fear of facing questions from its critics has given the post of ‘Deputy’ General Secretary to Mr. A. Raja.
Mr. Raja who speaks loudly in his characteristic style about Hinduism can’t even murmur to express his disappointment. He won’t be able to do it against the next golden boy of the DMK – Udhayanidhi Stalin. There will come a day when Mr. Raja has to stand with folded hands in front of Udhayanidhi Stalin. For eternity, people like Raja will have to remain subservient to that family and they will be able to shamelessly remain so for the sake of the crumbs that the family throws for them.
Mr. Raja is absolutely wrong when it comes to Hinduism. Inequalities exist in all societies and what is special about Hinduism is that there exists space to voice out against any form of injustice. When Adi Sankara after taking a bath in the Ganges in Varanasi saw a member of the Chandala caste coming along his way, he had told the Chandala to move away to which the Chandala asked “To which are you referring as untouchable, this body or the Self?” Adi Sankara prostrated at the feet of Chandala then and there and stood corrected. He revered the Chandala to be a Guru and came out with the ‘Maneeshaa Panchakam’ that stresses that distinctions based on social, moral, ethical have no relevance whatsoever in pursuing knowledge and God.
Mr. Raja should first try and end caste inequalities and injustice within his party before going about sharing his wisdom on Hinduism. There are enough reformers within the Hindu fold working to lift the downtrodden people establishing real social justice unlike the pseudo-social justice that Mr. Raja and the DMK propagates.
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