A political party’s website serves as a reflection of its ideology, priorities, and engagement with cultural and intellectual heritage. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), through its website, hosts a vast digital library—an intellectual repository comprising historical, political, philosophical, and literary works, including significant contributions to Tamil literature. On the other hand, the website of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a party that claims to champion Tamil identity and culture, lacks any such intellectual repository, let alone a dedicated section for Tamil literature.
BJP’s Extensive Digital Library: A Treasure Trove Of Knowledge
The BJP’s e-library boasts a staggering collection of resources across multiple disciplines, emphasizing India’s history, culture, philosophy, and governance.
Among its 62 categorized sections, one finds:
- TAMIL SANGAM LITERATURE: A dedicated space for Tamil’s ancient literary tradition, celebrating the works from the Sangam era such as Kanchi Puranam by Kachchiyappa Munivar, Naalayira Dhivya Pirabandham, Kanda Puranam by Kachchiyappa Sivachariyaar. Some of the other works on display in the Tamil Literature category include works of Bharathiyar, Maraimalai Adigal, Kalki Krishnamurthy, Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, and Sivagnaana Swamigal to name a few.
Some of the other noteworthy additions to the library include:
- BHARATIYA EPICS: Showcasing India’s civilizational continuity, including Tamil contributions.
- HISTORY AND CULTURE: Featuring diverse perspectives on India’s historical trajectory, including figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Veer Savarkar.
- POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE: Providing insights into India’s constitutional evolution, parliamentary debates, and economic thought.
This repository is not just a collection of books; it serves as a knowledge hub for researchers, scholars, students, and the general public interested in understanding India’s intellectual traditions, including the contributions of Tamil civilization.
Absence Of A Knowledge Base With DMK: A Stark Contrast
In contrast, the DMK’s official website lacks an equivalent knowledge hub. A party that claims to uphold Tamil pride and promote its linguistic heritage has glaringly omitted a digital collection that could serve as an educational resource on Tamil history, literature, and philosophy. There is no visible archive of Tamil literary works, Sangam poetry, or historical records that highlight Tamil Nadu’s rich contributions to Indian civilization. All we can see is Dravidian Model, events, photos, election manifesto, and such.
For a party that often positions itself as the guardian of Tamil identity, this absence raises serious questions. Why has the DMK not invested in curating a digital archive showcasing Tamil literature and historical texts? Why is there no repository of works by great Tamil poets, philosophers, and thinkers?
This is how it is for all the boasting they do about being saviours of Tamil culture and language!
A Commitment To Intellectual Empowerment
The BJP’s commitment to intellectual empowerment is evident in its structured approach to documenting and disseminating knowledge. It has created a centralized digital resource where history, politics, culture, and philosophy converge, offering access to seminal works in various languages, including Tamil. Meanwhile, the DMK’s failure to establish a similar resource suggests a lack of genuine commitment to knowledge-building beyond political rhetoric.
If the DMK truly wants to be seen as the protector of Tamil culture, it must take concrete steps—starting with the creation of a digital repository that does justice to the legacy of Tamil literature and history. Until then, the BJP’s digital library remains a testament to its efforts in preserving and promoting India’s diverse intellectual traditions, including Tamil contributions, while the DMK’s website stands devoid of any such meaningful engagement with Tamil heritage.
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