The DMK government in Tamil Nadu has once again raised eyebrows after announcing its decision to confer the prestigious Vaikom Award for Social Justice on Thenmozhi Soundararajan, a US-based activist whose organization has documented ties to Khalistani extremists and anti-India networks. This comes just over a year after the government ‘honoured’ Alt News co-founder and alleged ‘factchecker’ Mohammed Zubair with the Kottai Ameer ‘Communal Harmony’ Award, despite his own controversial track record.
Vaikom Award for Thenmozhi Soundararajan
On Wednesday, the state government announced that Thenmozhi Soundararajan would receive the 2025 Vaikom Award for Social Justice, instituted in memory of social reformer ‘Periyar’ E.V. Ramasamy. The award carries a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, a citation, and a medal, and is intended to honor individuals from other states who work for the welfare of marginalized communities.
According to a press release, Soundararajan, whose parents hail from Madurai district, is being recognized for her activism and for founding Equality Labs, a civil rights organization.
Who Is Thenmozhi Soundararajan?
Thenmozhi Soundararajan is a US-based activist and the founder of Equality Labs, an organization that claims to advocate for Dalit and marginalized community rights. Her work, however, places her at the center of a complex web of controversy, linking her to anti-India propaganda, Khalistani extremism, and alleged foreign intelligence networks.
Did you know!
-Gurpatwant Singh Pannun-a designated terrorist by Indian govt, who has openly issued threats to govt officials/leaders, is a close associate of DalitDiva (@EqualityLabs ) founder Thenmozhi Soundararajan!!On May 22, 2019, Thenmozhi Soundararajan hosted an event… https://t.co/wxK5hRMRdm pic.twitter.com/fNKN72wok9
— Dr. Neha Das (@neha_laldas) December 24, 2024
Soundararajan positions herself as a Dalit rights activist, but her methodology and alliances have drawn widespread criticism for promoting division and Hinduphobia. Her organization, Equality Labs, is known for its aggressive push for caste-based legislation in the United States, such as the now-defunct California SB403 bill. A study by the Network Contagion Research Institute found that Equality Labs’ “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” training materials often used dehumanizing rhetoric against Brahmins, increasing anti-Hindu sentiment among participants.
Her affiliations extend far beyond caste advocacy. Soundararajan has documented ties to designated Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, having shared a stage with him at a 2019 event hosted by his organization, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). This collaboration connected her to a group openly supporting Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
Further scrutiny reveals deeper, more alarming connections. Equality Labs is a key member of the Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA), a coalition that includes the Organization for Minorities of India (OFMI)—founded by ISI-linked operative Bhajan Singh Bhinder—and the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC). Investigations have suggested that Equality Labs has received funding from sources linked to both George Soros and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), with Pakistani citizen Huma Dar, a reported link to the Pakistani Army, serving on its board.
Soundararajan’s public statements consistently reveal a strong anti-Hindu bias. She has labeled the Hindu pilgrimage Maha Kumbh Mela as “Islamophobic,” called for the “de-Brahminization” of Yoga, and launched virulent social media attacks, including one targeting former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal based on his assumed caste. In 2018, she designed the “Smash Brahminical Patriarchy” poster held by then-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, a incident that sparked international controversy.
In summary, while Thenmozhi Soundararajan operates under the banner of social justice, her activism is characterized by its divisive nature, its propagation of Hinduphobia, and its extensive ties to a network of extremist and anti-India forces operating from foreign soil.
Honouring People Who Serve The Purpose Of The Dravidianists?
The decision to honor Soundararajan follows a similar pattern when the DMK government presented Mohammed Zubair with the Kottai Ameer Communal Harmony Award in January 2024. The government cited his work with Alt News in verifying the authenticity of viral videos and preventing violence.
However, Zubair has himself been repeatedly accused of peddling fake news and maintaining selective outrage in his fact-checking. During the 2023 exodus of migrant workers from Tamil Nadu, Zubair actively defended the state government, but conspicuously avoided addressing the climate of hate created by several DMK leaders and allies who had consistently used slurs like ‘Vadakkan’ and ‘Pani Puri wala’ against North Indians. His fact-checking focused on debunking exaggerated death tolls while whitewashing the underlying xenophobic rhetoric and multiple instances of violence against migrant workers that had triggered the panic.
The conferment of state honors to both Soundararajan and Zubair has raised questions about the DMK government’s award selection process. Critics argue that the government is using prestigious awards to reward ideological fellow travelers rather than genuine social reformers.
In Soundararajan’s case, the award appears to overlook her organization’s extensive links to extremist elements and foreign networks actively working against India’s interests. For Zubair, the honor seemed to reward his partisan defense of the state government during a crisis rather than impartial fact-checking.
(Source: The Hindu)
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