With the 2024 Parliament elections a few months away, the Tamil Nadu political scenario is undergoing a churn with the AIADMK exiting the National Democratic Alliance. The stage has been for political maneuvering and BJP Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai has taken an active role in mobilizing the public through his En Mann, En Makkal yatra.
In the aftermath of the AIADMK-BJP rift, it is noteworthy that Annamalai has been drawing sizable crowds from various political factions especially the youth from AIADMK, DMDK and PMK. The intensified political activity of the BJP has prompted leaders across parties to “reassess” their strategies.
Against this backdrop, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thirumavalavan stated in Chidambaram that many youth cadres belonging to AIADMK and PMK, have been enthusiastcally participating in Annamalai’s yatra.
This has allegedly prompted Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) to take a serious stance on the issue, aiming to address the apparent exodus of younger cadres from the ADMK. To deliberate on this matter and other party strategies, EPS has scheduled a meeting with district secretaries at the party headquarters on 21 November 2023.
EPS recently announced plans to establish committees for the women’s wing and polling booths in preparation for the 2024 parliamentary elections. The broader objective is to refurbish the ADMK’s image, reinstate its secular standing, and position it as a dominant force in Tamil Nadu politics in the upcoming elections.
EPS’s strategic vision encompasses winning back minority voters who distanced themselves from the party post-Jayalalithaa’s demise in 2016, especially after aligning with the BJP. The AIADMK’s alliance-friendly members have urged Palaniswami to reconsider the decision to exit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
In the aftermath of the alliance breakup, there has been a notable absence of public criticism between the BJP and ADMK leaders. This has left political observers pondering whether the two parties will choose to align once again or maintain their separate paths.
Amidst these uncertainties, concerns have risen over the alleged participation of PMK’s cadres in Annamalai’s team, particularly as the yatra approaches the Vanniyar areas. This is said to be the reason behind the strong objection put forth by PMK’s Anbumani Ramadoss to Annamalai’s recent statement on the removal of the Periyar/EVR’s statue near temples in Srirangam and other parts of TN.
The upcoming advisory meeting by the ADMK on 21 November 2023 is expected to shape strategies for retaining and attracting youth support, reflecting the party’s commitment to navigating the evolving political landscape in Tamil Nadu.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has initiated a probe regarding the petrol bomb attack that occurred in front of the Raj Bhavan in Chennai on 25 October 2023.
The perpetrator behind this act of terror was identified as ‘Karukka’ Vinoth who has a history of similar criminal activities and violence. ‘Karukka’ Vinoth reportedly hurled two Molotov cocktails in front of the Raj Bhavan, causing damage to the police barricade. Vinoth was arrested by the police suo moto under vandalism charges and was later slapped with the Goondas Act. This led to accusations of foul play, with Raj Bhavan posting on their official handle, insinuating that the investigation was tainted from the start.
As per police sources, the NIA invoked provisions of the Explosives Substances Act in connection with the incident.
‘Karukka’ Vinoth had previously faced accusations in several cases, including Molotov cocktail attacks on the Teynampet police station on August 12, 2015, and a TASMAC shop on July 13, 2017.
While formal intimation on the NIA registering a case is yet to be received, a senior police officer mentioned, “Based on available evidence, our investigation confirms that ‘Karukka’ Vinoth is the sole accused. CCTV footage shows he walked alone from Teynampet to Raj Bhavan with four Molotov cocktails. Upon police approach, he threw two petrol bombs—one on Sardar Patel Road and another in front of the main entrance.”
The Guindy police, acting on a complaint filed by the Head Constable present at the scene, registered a case against ‘Karukka’ Vinoth under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, along with provisions under the Explosives Substances Act and the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Destruction and Loss) Act.
The local police have confirmed receiving an official notification from the NIA, and they are mandated to provide the national agency with comprehensive details regarding the incident.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram and WhatsApp and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
In recent days, 2,115 eggs supplied to government school noon-meal centers in Erode district’s Kodumudi and Modakkurichi blocks were found to be rotten during boiling for serving. Weekly, around 92,000 eggs are delivered to primary and middle schools for the mid-day meal program. Cooks and organizers reported the issue, leading to the discovery of 1,348 rotten eggs in 27 schools in Modakkurichi taluk and 767 in 13 schools in Kodumudi taluk. The supplier replaced the spoiled eggs, and samples were collected for testing. Weather conditions may have contributed to hen infections, posing health risks to students. Incidents of school children falling ill after consuming rotten eggs have been reported in the past, prompting concerns about food safety in government schools.
In response to this, Geetha Jeevan, Minister of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment of Tamil Nadu claimed the eggs seemed rotten because the ink used to identify the fresh eggs “seeped” into the inside and that is what caused the colour to be so. Speaking to news reporters, she said,
“There was a complaint from the BJP. The head of the district took action to get all the eggs from the egg supplier – all 96 eggs were replaced. He was given a show-case notice. The eggs were sent to the food security department for inspection. The eggs were supplied to the Tamil Nadu government, it was equivalent to three days of supply per week – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday. It is a rule to colour the eggs as per the day. This is done to prevent using an old/expired egg. The order was issued in 2006. The eggs were coloured black that day. The Tamil Nadu government stamp was also put on each of the eggs. It was raining heavily that day. There was no tarpaulin and the eggs became wet. Owing to this, the black dye seeped in and the eggs developed a colour inside. This was investigated by the food security department and a report was published on this. Some people are hell-bent on finding a reason to criticise the government and they made a big issue out of this. The truth is totally different, everything is functioning as per rules. We are providing the students with good quality boiled eggs only.”
Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party President K Annamalai had called out the local administration for serving rotten eggs to children as a part of the midday meals scheme. It is a matter of wonder that colours on the outside of the egg, put on the hard eggshell can seep into the egg, are eggs so porous one wonders. Netizens found this amusing and called out her ignorance.
According to an RTI filing regarding the Tamil Nadu government’s procurement of eggs for the midday meal scheme, the DMK Stalin government had given contracts to the same companies that Stalin accused of corruption when he was in opposition.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram and WhatsApp and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
The MK-Stalin DMK government has appointed J. Sangumani, as the new Director of Medical Education & Research (DME), nearly two weeks after the position became vacant.
In an order dated 14 November 2023 issued by the Health and Family Welfare department, Dr. J. Sangumni, Dean of Government Virudhunagar Medical College, was regularly promoted and officially appointed as the DME.
The former DME, R. Shanthimalar, retired on October 31.
Dr. Sangumani. J, Dean, Government Virudhunagar Medical College, Virudhunagar is promoted & appointed as Director of Medical Education & Research (DME) for the year 2023-2024 vice Dr. Shanthimalar. R, retired.#TamilNadu#Medical#Health#DMEpic.twitter.com/vuGioViRZr
In a separate order, the department revealed that the former DME had submitted the names of five eligible candidates for consideration: R. Balajinathan, dean of Government Thanjavur Medical College; H. Muthukrishnan, dean of Government Ariyalur Medical College; R. Murugesan, dean of Government Tiruppur Medical College; J. Sangumani, dean of Government Virudhunagar Medical College; and R. Suganthy Rajakumari, dean of Government Dindigul Medical College.
The government chose Dr. Sangumani based on “merit and ability”.
However, a DME Panel shortlisted earlier that was circulated on social media marked Sangumani as “Not Eligible” as he had violated government tender norms in the purchase of an equipment.
According to the circular, Sangumani had purchased the equipment fully automated analyser at twice the cost (₹73.37 lakh) against the Tamil Nadu Medical Service Corporation (TNMSC) rate of ₹36.5 lakh causing a loss of ₹36.87 lakh to the state exchequer.
The Kanda Sashti festival at Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple commenced with traditional fervour on 13 November 2023. Devotees have been thronging the second Arupadai Veedu (the 2nd of the 6 holy abodes of Lord Murugan) to participate in the festival.
The reports claimed that the Abhishekam Darshan fee, which stood at ₹500 per person (on normal days) and ₹2000 per person (on auspicious days), has seen a steep rise to ₹3000. Similarly, the Vishwarupa Darshan fee, typically at ₹100, has been elevated to ₹2000, and the Quick Darshan fee surged from ₹100 to ₹1000, noted media reports.
However, a report by The Hindu quoted a Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department officials saying that a government order (GO) was passed in 2017 for upward revision of ticket rates.
The Joint Commissioner of the Lord Subramaniya Swami Temple in Tiruchendur, Karthik, claimed that in 2017, the government issued an order to raise ticket rates during the ‘kanda sashsti’ celebrations. He added that the practice of selling a special darshan ticket for ₹100 along with a ₹1,000 ticket has been in place since 2017. He further said that “certain elements”, with the intention of harming the image of the HR&CE Department, are making baseless allegations, wrongly asserting that the ticket rates were increased only recently. He emphasized that the increased ticket rate has been in effect since 2017.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram and WhatsApp and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
Music composer AR Rahman is once again in the news – no, he is not making headlines for another mismanaged and nightmarish concert; this time, he is facing severe backlash for his rendition of a popular patriotic song by legendary Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam in the Bollywood film ‘Pippa.’
The controversy centres around Rahman’s “distortion” of the rhythm and tunes in his version of ‘Karar oi louho kopat’ (Iron bars of a jail). The song was featured in the war movie ‘Pippa,’ based on real-life events during the 1971 India-Pakistan War that led to the birth of Bangladesh.
Titled ‘Pippa,’ the film pays tribute to the amphibious war tank PT-76, also known as “Pippa,” which smoothly floats on water like an empty ghee tin. The narrative unfolds a wartime saga, highlighting patriotism and the coming-of-age journey of Captain Balram Mehta, portrayed by Ishaan, of the 45 Cavalry Tank Squadron. The storyline showcases the valour and courage of Balram Mehta and the Indian Armed Forces during a war for the liberation of another country.
The original song rendition goes like this:
and the distorted version like this:
The comments on both the videos give an idea of the level of distortion done by AR Rahman.
Family members of Kazi Nazrul Islam, often referred to as the ‘rebel poet,’ expressed outrage over the perceived distortion of the song’s original essence. Kazi Anirban, the poet’s grandson, stated that while his mother had granted consent for the song’s use in the film, she did not approve of any alterations to its tunes and rhythm.
“The way the song has been dished out with the change in rhythm and tunes is shocking,” said Anirban, emphasising that Rahman did not understand the lyrics or the historical background of the song.
“The song was rendered with a background of fighting the British. It inspired freedom fighters. I don’t know why Rahman sir did this, it’s injustice. I appeal that this song is dropped. He (Rahman) didn’t understand either the lyrics or the background of the song,” he added.
Anindita Kazi, Nazrul’s granddaughter, demanded the immediate removal of the altered version from the film and the public domain. Nazrul’s granddaughter Anindita Kazi in a voice message from the US said, “As members of his family and lovers of his creations, we cannot accept this distortion. We want it to be immediately omitted from the film and removed from the public domain,” as quoted by PTI.
Popular Bengali singer Haimanti Shukla expressed her deep outrage, “I wonder how a composer like AR Rahman could make this happen… No such tinkering with songs of Kazi Nazrul Islam can be allowed. It is shameful for the Bengali singers who were part of the rendition. I am deeply outraged,” she questioned.
Rahman’s Silence & Netizen Response
While Rahman has yet to comment on the matter, the controversy has gained momentum on social media, with netizens expressing disappointment over what they perceive as a lack of research before altering the song.
Bengalis worldwide have vehemently criticised Rahman for his alterations and distortion of the song, labeling it as distasteful, sacrilegious, akin to slaughter, blasphemous, and horrible, and expressed various other forms of criticism. Here are a few such posts.
God of modern Indian music to many, A.R. Rahman, has successfully ruined Nazrul's Karar Oi Louho Kopat. Not only does his pathetic new composition fail to justify meaning and mood of song, but it also sounds very bad & unsynchronized. We will understand the impact of original!🤮 https://t.co/JtWJbIzFw4pic.twitter.com/dMVvVhKnTj
My mother loved Kazi Nazrul Islam’s poetry, songs. The word Hindol appears in Kazi Nazrul Islam’s work. I heard A. R. Rahman’s version of Karar Oi Louho Kopat and it’s really a sad version. He has not been able to do justice to the poetry at all. His version should be withdrawn.
What A.R.Rahman has done with Kazi Nazrul Islam's revolutionary compositon 'Karar oi louho kopat' is nothing less than sacrilege. He should outright apologize for killng the basic essence of this legendary song which has inspired millions of Bengalis since decades.
As Gen Secy of @BanglaPokkho, National org of Bengalis in India, I condemn distasteful distortion of Kazi Nazrul Islam's "Karar oi louho kopat", song that inspired millions of Bengali freedom fighters. @arrahman did a hit job against Bengali in the service of Hindi paymasters.
A. R. Rahman’s Gen. Dyer like slaughter of the iconic patriotic song “Karar oi louho kopat” originally composed by Kaji Nazrul Islam depicting the martyrs’ ultimate sacrifice for the freedom struggle of India received 48.2k dislike from netizens. #ShameOnARRahmanpic.twitter.com/usOPE6ephs
AR Rahman has destroyed Nazrul’s Karar Oi Louho Kopat. One of the best protest songs has been turned into a bullshit. It’s outrageous, it’s blasphemous.
1/2 What Rahman did with “Karar oi louho kopat” is absolutely horrible but if you are slamming him then it would be better if you first take on the “who she must not be named” for singing Rabindra Sangeet & other songs discordantly, tonelessly & out of tune in public events.
First AR Rahman distorted our own Vande Mataram, it has however gained acceptance because we live in a secular and tolerant country. It is surely very brave of Rahman to experiment with the patriotic songs of another country.
Well many will gonna abuse but never put A R saab over Ilaiyaraaja Ji. And now with this distorted version of ‘Karar Oi Louho Kopat’ (after Vandemataram) am having ‘respect’ issues. Personal opinion and free speech. #justsaying#Opinion
Critic of Remix Culture Turns to Remixing – The Irony That Is AR Rahman
Having previously criticized the remix culture, Rahman now faces criticism from Bengalis for his own “remix.” In an interview with India Today, when questioned about the remix culture, he said, “The more I see, the more it is distorted. The intention of the composer gets distorted. People say, ‘I am reimagining.’ Who are you to re-imagine? I am also very careful of taking someone else’s work. You have to be respectful and I think it is a grey area, we need to sort it out.”
In another interview with The Quint, when asked about his reaction to remixes/covers of his own songs that he might come across on Instagram, he says, “For instance one of my songs, Ishwar Allah is one of my favourite songs and Javed Akhtar Saab wrote it. They took that song and they really killed it. I didn’t do anything about it because I was like what’s going on, but they just really killed it because whatever is added to that may be beautiful, but not with this. I know because it’s – it’s memories, it’s respect. It’s something which happened at that time. It’s destiny. You can’t change that and I hate to use the word bastardised it,”
Apology From Makers; Apology Rejected By Kazi Family
Ronnie Screwvala, through RSVP Movies, and Siddharth Roy Kapur, via Roy Kapur Films, produced the film, while Raja Krishna Menon directed it. In light of the controversy, a statement of apology was issued. They posted on the official handle of the production company and the statement said, “In light of the current discourse surrounding the song ‘Karar Oi Louho Kopat’ the producers, director, and music composer of the film Pippa wish to clarify that our rendition of the song is a sincere artistic interpretation, embarked upon only after securing the necessary adaptation rights from the estate of the Late Mr. Kazi Nazrul Islam.”
Nazrul Islam’s family rejected the apology issued by the filmmakers. As per a Times of India report, the grandson and granddaughter of Kazi Nazrul have refused to accept the apology. Anirban, Nazrul’s grandson, stated, “An apology post on X is not enough for such disrespect. The least they can do is remove the song from the film, along with my mother’s and my name from the credit,” as cited by TOI. Anindita, Nazrul’s granddaughter, echoed this sentiment, saying, “I am not accepting the apology,” as reported by the daily.
Silence in Dravidian Media Amidst Rahman Controversy
Surprisingly, the controversy surrounding AR Rahman’s rendition has not received significant attention in Dravidian media in Tamil Nadu. Instead, the focus remains on other topics such as Deepavali celebrations, smog levels, air quality index (AQI), and police actions against individuals defying orders on cracker bursting during the festival. It is argued that the disproportionate focus on these issues by Dravidian media raises questions about their priorities and the need for balanced coverage of significant cultural and artistic controversies. The lack of substantial coverage of AR Rahman’s controversial rendition in the Dravidian media of Tamil Nadu has raised eyebrows about media priorities in the region.
On 14 November 2023, addressing an election rally in Betul, Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to Rahul Gandhi as ‘Lord of Fools,’ criticizing him for spreading misinformation about mobile phones in India.
PM Modi highlighted Gandhi’s claim that only ‘made in China’ phones are available in India, calling him out for his lack of awareness. Without explicitly naming Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi also mocked his mysterious foreign trips, questioning the effectiveness of the spectacles he wears.
“Yesterday, a ‘big expert’ of the Congress was saying that in India, everybody over here has only Made-in-China mobile phones. One ‘big expert’ was saying that all of you have only Made-in-China mobile phones. Oh lord of fools! In which world do these people live in?“, PM Modi slammed Rahul Gandhi without naming him.
PM Modi further added “Congress leaders have developed a mental illness of undermining the achievements of the country. I don’t know what foreign spectacles they wear, which makes them unable to see the development in the country. What is the truth? Today India is the second largest manufacturer of mobile phones in the world.”
The Prime Minister emphasized the significant progress in mobile phone manufacturing in India, stating that the country is now the second-largest producer globally. He noted that during Congress’s tenure, mobiles worth less than ₹20,000 crore were manufactured annually, compared to today’s production of mobile phones worth ₹3.5 lakh crore. India also exports mobile phones worth approximately ₹1 lakh crore.
“When Congress was at the Centre, every year in India, mobiles worth less than ₹ 20,000 crore were manufactured. Today in India, mobile phones worth ₹3.5 lakh crore are made in India. India exports mobile phones worth approximately ₹1 lakh crore to other countries.“, PM Modi said.
PM Modi stressed the importance of ‘Make in India,’ stating that those who remember it only during elections do not understand the value of Swadeshi (locally manufactured goods). He highlighted the ‘vocal for local’ movement, revealing that during Diwali, people purchased India-made products worth ₹4.4 lakh crores.
Under the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative, mobile phone shipments in India have seen a 23% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). According to Counterpoint, India is now the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer globally, with over 98% of shipments being ‘made in India’ in 2022.
Alphabet Inc announced plans to manufacture Pixel smartphones in India, starting with Pixel 8, expected to roll out in markets from 2024. Additionally, Tata Electronics Private Limited, a Tata group company, will soon begin manufacturing iPhones in India for both domestic and global markets, as announced by Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar in October.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram and WhatsApp and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
A controversy has emerged surrounding the treatment of a 4-year-old boy, Jayapandiyan, who suffered burn injuries due to a firecracker explosion at Sivaganga.
At 8 in the morning of 13 November 2023, a 4-year-old boy Jayapandiyan, who suffered burn injuries owing to a fire cracker explosion was brought to the Sivaganga Government Medical College Hospital. His parents who had brought him to be treated at the hospital allege that he was not given the proper treatment and was treated by security guards. This video was shared by the parents and spread over WhatsApp which became viral.
சிவகங்கை அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் வெடி விபத்தால் காயம்பட்ட சிறுவனுக்கு மருத்துவர்கள் இல்லாததால் அரசு மருத்துவமனை காவலாளிகள் சிகிச்சையளித்துள்ளார்.
திருநெல்வேலியில் கடந்த நான்கு நாட்களாக குடிக்க அருகதையற்ற , சுகாதாரமற்ற நிலையில் குடிநீர் விநியோகிக்கப்படுவதால் மக்கள் மருத்துவமனையை… pic.twitter.com/Cmhwh4BV0d
— Raj Satyen – SayYesToWomenSafety&AIADMK (@satyenaiadmk) November 14, 2023
Sivaganga Medical College Hospital Dean, Sathyabama investigated the matter with the doctor who was on duty, Inba Sekaran, and two of his students. Upon investigating the CCTV footage, it was allegedly found that two doctors were the ones who gave him treatment and not security guards as claimed by the parents, the dean stated. According to the dean, attempts to remove the child’s shirt were met with resistance from both the child and the parents, leading to the involvement of assistants for the procedure. Dean Sathyabama issued a stern warning against the dissemination of false information, asserting that strict action would be taken against those who spread baseless accusations against the medical staff.
Meanwhile, in Tirunelveli, a separate crisis is unfolding as residents have been grappling with poor water quality for the past four days. The water contamination issue has led to a surge in hospital admissions, with masses seeking medical attention due to the unfit and unhygienic water supply.
A photo shared by a reporter associated with The New Indian Express highlighted the gravity of the situation, depicting cloudy water even after boiling and filtering.
கடந்த நான்கு தினங்களாக குடிநீர் மிகவும் மோசமான தரத்தில் வருகிறது. மருத்துவமனைகளில் பொதுமக்களின் கூட்டம். குடிநீரை கொதிக்க வைத்து தெளிவு படுத்திய பிறகுள்ள படம்தான் இது. @TirunelveliCorp – Mohamed Ayyub, #Tirunelveli corporation, Pettai pic.twitter.com/dT4lMVAelY
It appears that the Tirunelveli Corporation has not taken any action to address the ongoing water quality crisis, despite increasing concerns and hospitalizations. This situation raises questions about the municipal response to public health issues in the region, leaving residents to grapple with the consequences of inadequate water supply management, as the situation has not been resolved decisively.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram and WhatsApp and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
In the Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital in Chennai, the canteen was shut down after a video surfaced, capturing a rat brazenly feasting on food stored for public consumption.
The problem surfaced when a relative of a patient visited the hospital canteen and observed a rat moving among the food items stored in a glass container.
He bore witness to a rat scurrying through bajji and vada in a glass storage box. Upon confronting the staff about the alarming situation, they were met with a dismissive response. As soon as one of the persons started taking video, the manager of the canteen started to play safe by shooing away the rat with a stick and later clearing away the rat-infested food.
Taking cognizance of the severity of the issue, Chennai’s designated food safety officer, Dr P Sateesh Kumar, conducted an inspection of the canteen following complaints about a rat infestation. Dr Kumar revealed, “We found rats in snacks prepared two days ago. The manager will be asked to pay a fine of ₹5,000 for not maintaining hygiene. We have issued him a show-cause notice. The canteen will be allowed to reopen only after we ensure it is clean and safe.”
The incident raises questions about the overall hygiene and cleanliness standards within the hospital’s food facilities.
In response to the incident, the India Today reported that Dr. P Balaji, the hospital dean, took action to close the canteen.
Notably, the staff had been granted leave due to the Deepavali festival, resulting in the canteen being inactive for the past two days with no food items sold to the public.
The dean of the medical college claimed that all stored food has been completely removed and discarded, ensuring it was not made available to the public. The canteen will remain closed until a thorough cleaning is carried out, he said.
However, Thinakaran Rajamani of The New Indian Express noted that a few months ago the hospital dean of Theni Government Medical College was suspended for allegedly collecting bribe from a hospital canteen owner. This has raised concerns about the condition of canteens in other government hospitals.
Few months ago, Theni government medical college hospital dean was suspended for allegedly collecting bribe from a canteen owner. Now rat is seen eating snacks of a canteen in Chennai Stanley government medical college hospital. Are the officials inspecting the canteens inside… pic.twitter.com/EEdcZKNuay
The much-anticipated Kanda Shashti festival at Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple commenced with traditional fervour on 13 November 2023, marked by the auspicious Yagasala Puja. However, the joy of devotees took a shocking turn as they were confronted with a substantial increase in darshan fees on this special occasion.
The festival, which began at 7 a.m. with Yagasala Puja, witnessed Swami Jayantinatha leading the Valli Deivanai Abhishekamakaranam Deeparathan at 9 a.m. The main event, Surasamharam, is scheduled to unfold on the beach on the evening of 18 November 2023.
Devotees, who had eagerly gathered since 12 November 2023 evening, were disheartened to discover the escalated darshan fees. The Abhishekam Darshan fee, which stood at ₹500 per person (on normal days) and ₹2000 per person (on auspicious days), has seen a steep rise to ₹3000. Similarly, the Vishwarupa Darshan fee, typically at ₹100, has been elevated to ₹2000, and the Quick Darshan fee surged from ₹100 to ₹1000.
The sudden fee hikes left devotees dumbfounded, especially considering that the special darshan fee had already been increased in 2022. The temple, which opened at 1 a.m. for special pujas, attracted lakhs of devotees from various districts, eager to partake in the Shashti festival celebrations.
A report by The Hindu quoted a HR&CE official saying that the fare increase was done back in 2017 and that “certain elements” are spreading baseless allegations.
Temporary sheds have been erected at 21 locations within the temple premises to accommodate devotees observing fasts during the festival. To ensure security, 2500 police personnel and home guards have been deployed.
The administration is making preparations for the upcoming events, including the grand Surasamharam on 18 November 2023 and the wedding ceremony on 19 November 2023. Despite the festive spirit, the unexpected spike in darshan fees has cast a shadow over the celebrations, leaving devotees dismayed.
The Kanda Shashti festival, celebrated annually with great pomp at the Tiruchendur temple, draws lakhs of devotees from different towns who come to seek the darshan of Lord Murugan. The temple authorities have not provided any prior notification regarding the fee increases, further intensifying the stupefaction and disappointment among the devotees. It is noteworthy that the said temple falls under the purview of the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. Earlier in August 2022, the DMK government and its HR&CE department found itself mired in contoversy when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son-in-law Sabarisan Vedamurthy conducted a special yagam/yagna (sacrificial fire ritual) at the Thiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple. He had performed the (Kshatru Samhara Yagam), a vedic ritual performed to ‘destroy and finish-off enemies’. It is usually done by powerful businessmen and politicians for want of more wealth and power and ward of evil forces. It was called out by many as blatant abuse of power as a barricade was erected at the premises of the temple causing inconvenience to devotees who were unable to go to the Valli cave.
The HR&CE department recently has been receiving flak for their overarching use of power especially in the recent Tiruvannamalai shopping complex construction.
