Defending the “Eradicate Sanatana Dharma” remarks made by DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK MP P. Wilson appearing on the former’s behalf said that the Constitution provides not just freedom to profess and propagate religion but also atheism. He also said that if someone doesn’t like his speech, they need not listen to him.
The DMK MP was representing DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin during the hearing of a quo warranto petition filed by executives of Hindu Munnani, which questions the eligibility of the DMK leaders Udhayanidhi, Sekar Babu and A. Raja to remain in office, having made statements against Hindu religion.
During the hearing on Wednesday, 8 November 2023, the Madras High Court sought clarification regarding the literature or source that Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi Stalin had referred to to interpret Sanatana Dharma as a belief system that promotes the caste system. This legal action
“Your understanding of Sanatana Dharma appears to be that it refers to Varnas or the inherent divisions on the basis of caste. What is the literature that was there? What is the research that was done to arrive at such an assumption?” Justice Sumanth asked.
P. Wilson, the senior counsel representing the Minister, explained that the Minister’s perspective was shaped by the speeches and writings of Dravidian ideologue E.V. Ramasamy, (known as Periyar by his followers), and B.R. Ambedkar.
Furthermore, the counsel highlighted that even the petitioner, T. Manohar, had drawn upon a 1902 edition of “Sanatana Dharma – An Advanced Textbook of Hindu Religion and Ethics,” published by the Board of Trustees of Central Hindu College in Benares.
The counsel underscored that the 1902 publication explicitly stated that Sanatana Dharma was rooted in four Smritis, including The Manusmriti, which promotes the caste-based division of society determined by birth. Consequently, the Minister’s statements were grounded in these published sources, as per the counsel’s argument.
When the judge highlighted that the Central Hindu College textbook was presented in court only after the filing of the quo warranto petition and inquired whether the Minister had access to the publication before delivering his speech, Mr. Wilson replied in affirmation.
He stated that it was a 1902 publication and that it was in the public domain and produced a translation of the Manusmriti in court. He also mentioned that Ambedkar had even gone as far as burning the Manusmriti as a symbolic act of rejecting the text that promotes caste-based divisions among humans.
When the Bench inquired about how Sanatana Dharma could be associated with The Manusmriti, the senior counsel explained that the answer could be found within the very 1902 publication that the writ petitioner himself had referenced. “The petitioner has destructed his own case. Your lordship can record it and close the case,” he said.
He said “Article 25 of the Constitution safeguards both religious beliefs and the principles of atheism. It grants the right to express one’s atheistic views, which is why there is no valid case against Minister Udayanidhi. Upholding the majority’s beliefs should not infringe upon the right to hold alternative opinions, a responsibility that the High Court must fulfill.”
He further added “Freedom of speech is one’s natural, basic human right. It must be protected. There are 8 reasons given in the constitution to limit one’s right to speech. Out of those 8 reasons, there is not a single reason given by the petitioner in this case. This case will waste the time of the High Court. The minister has also been asked to file a reply.”
The DMK MP also argued that the High Court can never take action on the ground that ministerial office bearers have violated the constitutional oath because appointing and removing a minister is a prerogative of the Chief Minister.
“The Eradicate Sanatana Conference was held in a convention hall from morning to night. If you don’t like the ideas expressed in it, why listen to it?“, DMK MP P. Wilson said defending the statements of Udhayanidhi.
Once Mr. Wilson had finished presenting his arguments, the judge adjourned the case to 10 November 2023 when senior counsel R. Viduthalai is expected to put forth the case on behalf of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Member of Parliament A. Raja, who is also facing a writ of quo warranto for speaking derogatorily about Sanatana Dharma – he compared it to HIV-AIDS and leprosy.
On 2 September 2023, Udhayanidhi Stalin participated in a conference titled, ‘Eradicate Sanatana Dharma’ and compared Sanatana Dharma to insects and diseases and called for its eradication.
In a recent incident that unfolded in Samaro, located in Sindh province of Pakista, a young visually-impaired woman named Anita Meghwar, was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam for marriage.
According to available accounts, Anita, who is the 18-year-old daughter of Lalu Meghwar and a resident of Wahid Colony in Naukot, allegedly experienced a traumatic sequence of events, including abduction, sexual assault, and a coercive conversion to Islam. The person accused in this case goes by the name “Mohammed Ayub,” known by various aliases such as Peer Jan Sarhandi and Baba Sai. It is reported that Anita was married to a man named Afzal Ali.
According to an article in The Daily Barsaat Karachi, Anita is said to have stated, “I am a Muslim, and my Islamic name is Fatima. According to Sharia, I am married to Afzal Ali, and I identify as a woman.“
Totally Blind Hindu minor girl abducted, raped, forcibly converted to Islam and married to a Muslim man ❗️ 29.10.23 दरगाह गुलजार ए खलील, सामारो #Sindh#Pakistan नौकोट में वाहिद कॉलोनी के रहवासी हिन्दू लालू मेघवार की नाबालिग बच्ची अनिता (आंखों से बिल्कुल अंधी) हुई अगवा, बलात्कार,… pic.twitter.com/BRucl9twea
However, the situation has become more intricate due to sources suggesting that Anita may have left her home voluntarily four days prior to the incident. It is claimed that she arrived at the Dargah Gulzar e Khalil in Samaro and entered into a marital union with Afzal Ali, signifying her conversion to Islam.
These contrasting narratives have given rise to a contentious debate, with some arguing that Anita willingly embraced Islam and made the choice to marry Afzal Ali. Her conversion and subsequent marriage have raised questions concerning religious freedom, as well as concerns about the circumstances that led to her decisions.
In Pakistan, there is a distressing frequency of reports involving the abduction and forced conversion of Hindu girls, particularly minors, on a daily basis. Given this context, it is highly plausible that in Anita’s case as well, she may have been compelled to convert and marry against her will.
In yet another instance of DMK supporters and Dravidianists spewing venom against Brahmins, a prominent Dravidianist named “Dr Aravind Raja” on X (formerly Twitter) targeted Carnatic singer and performer Sivasri Skandaprasad by making casteist abuse and sharing pictures of her in western clothes.
Aravind Raja who claims to be a CEO and a “brain specialist” said “That Paapaara (casteist slur for Brahmins)… Sorry Sorry.. Bharathiya Traditional Maami (a sexist and derogatory reference to Tamil Brahmin women)“.
Sivasri Skandaprasad is a well established Carnatic singer and performer. She had also sung the Helhe Neenu number for the Kannada version of Ponniyin Selvan – Part 2.
Aravind Raja had targeted Sivasri for her speech in which she emphasized on the importance of wearing Indian clothes over western clothes.
She had said “We are going outside wearing pant-shirt for our convenience. It is not our dress code. In the name of formals, we wear coat-suit and go outside. It is not our dress code. We’ve had a certain dress code suitable to our climatic conditions for ages. We’ve to boldly come outside wearing Indian/Bharatiya dress saying this is our formals.”
மாமி மட்டும் சவுரியத்துக்கு பேண்ட் டிசர்ட் போட்டு சுத்துமாம்.. மத்தவன் மட்டும் யுகங்கள நொட்டணுமாம்.🤧
Dravidianists and DMK men including several of their leaders have time and again targeted Tamil Brahmin women and spewed casteist and sexist venom against them.
Palanivel Thiagarajan
Former DMK IT wing chief and currently IT Minister in Stalin’s cabinet once invoked a caste identity of a woman journalist and abused her just because she posted on social media that a top leader’s son is involved in a mega land grab. He had also targeted another Brahmin woman journalist Sandhya Ravishankar several times.
Kannabiran Ravishankar (KRS)
A Dravidianist close to the DMK establishment, Kannabiran Ravishankar has made several derogatory and vulgar remarks against Tamil Brahmin women objectifying them. He had even used private photos of Tamil brahmin families including that of children to spew the Dravidian ‘anti-Brahmin’ vitriol. Read more about KRS and his anti-Hindu, anti-Brahmin tweets here. Kannabiran has been platformed and promoted for long by the top brass of the DMK.
Dayanidhi Maran
Dayanidhi Maran, has made several casteist remarks against Brahmins and in particular against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
He said, “Anitha’s (the girl who died by suicide in 2017 after being unable to secure a medical seat) brother spoke here today and he said 2017, the year Anitha died, was an important year. Why do you think is it an important year? It is because in 2016, J Jayalalithaa passed away and BJP wanted to use every opportunity to come to power with the help of the “slaves” and that is why they sent “Nirmala Mami”. Ok, they sent Nirmala Sitharaman. What she does is (laughs, as someone points out why he mentioned the word Mami – he responds by saying, I said it inadvertently.)
“Like Pickle Lady (a derogatory term targeting Tamil Brahmin women), he is attempting to become a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka.”, he had said implying that BJP leader Annamalai’s aspirations mirror those of Nirmala Sitharaman, who he referred to as ‘Oorka Ammaiyaar.’.
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A candidate who had missed her opportunity to join the Group-II services of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) due to a ‘Jai Hind’ remark in her answer found hope nine years later. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ruled in favour of the candidate, M Kalpana, directing the TNPSC to reassess her answer paper and offer her the opportunity if she meets the necessary score.
Justice Battu Devanand issued this order based on a petition filed by Kalpana in 2017. The controversy arose when the TNPSC declared her answer paper for the Part-B written examination, conducted in 2014 for Group-II services recruitment, as invalid. The commission cited the inclusion of “Jai Hind, Let us live united with nature” in her essay’s concluding section as the reason for disqualification.
While Kalpana argued that her answer was pertinent to the question, the TNPSC contended that she had violated instructions outlined in para 8 and 16(iii) of the answer book. These instructions prohibited candidates from including irrelevant or impertinent remarks that could identify them to the examiner.
It wasn’t until December 2016 that Kalpana learned the rationale behind her disqualification when she received an explanation in response to her Right to Information (RTI) application. With 160 marks in Part A and 24 marks in the interview, she required only six more marks to qualify.
Justice Devanand criticised the TNPSC for not considering the entire essay before labelling the ‘Jai Hind’ remark as ‘impertinent.’ He also highlighted that “Jai Hind” or “Victory to India” is a commonly uttered slogan in the country, used by children in school prayers and eminent speakers at the conclusion of speeches. The TNPSC was directed to adhere to the court’s directives within one month.
The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) has again courted controversy by inviting a radical leftist Sudhanva Deshpande who went on to glorify Hamas terrorists and gun culture in his lecture.
Sudhanva is an actor and director with Jana Natya Manch (Janam) which is a left-wing theatre group based in New Delhi.
The lecture was hosted virtually by the institution’s professor Sharmishtha Saha where Sudhanva Deshpande spoke about his meeting with some of the terrorists.
During his talk, Sudhanva said “In 2015, the first time I had gone to Palestine, I’ve been there twice. On my first visit I was lucky to meet Zakaria Zubeidi.“
Zakaria is the former Jenin chief of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a coalition of armed armed Palestinian groups in West Bank, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the European Union, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States.
He admitted his involvement in the 2002 Beit She’an attack, which killed 6 people. On February 27, 2019, Zubeidi was arrested once more and subsequently charged in an Israeli military court for his role in carrying out at least two shooting attacks on civilian buses in the West Bank.
Sudhanva then goes on to quote Palestinian Marxist–Leninist politician Ghassan Fayiz Kanafani saying “In order to have liberation, we need guns. We have to fight the occupation. You know, it has to be an armed struggle.
He also goes on to justify and glorify gun culture saying “But if we don’t have the culture to go with the guns, guns will turn on us. In other words you know, we will start killing each other, if we don’t have the culture with the guns.”
The radical leftist director further goes on to characterize the Palestine’s attack on Israel as “freedom struggle” saying “This is something I do want to emphasize that the Palestinian struggle is a freedom struggle. And there has been no freedom struggle in the history of the world, in the history of colonialism that is entirely 100% non-violent. It is never. All the countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America, that have thrown off the yoke of colonialism, that have only done through a combination of peaceful and armed struggle. And so that is exactly what you see in Palestine today. That’s one.”
This is the same argument that was made by Moussa Abu Marzouk who heads Hamas’ international relations.
Basically, he equated India’s brave freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Master Surya Sen, and Bagha Jatin to terrorists who kill infants, kidnap and rape women, and show no mercy to old people.
Deshpande then spoke with reverence about Zakaria Zubeidi who he called as one of the legendary freedom fighters in Palestine who took part in the armed struggle who also happens to be one of the main characters that will be seen in his film. Sudhanva then explains about the death of the protagonists in his documentary and how the Israeli state is discriminating against its own citizens including the Jewish.
He further goes on to draw equivalence to India saying “In this context, all of us in India should be wary of because we are sitting in where there is rhetoric. There is lot of talk of Hindu Rashtra etc etc as if Hindu Rashtra is going to be a Rashtra of all Hindus. Now, clearly a Jewish state is not a state for all Jews even.“
Sudhanva also alleges that the Israeli state not just discriminates Israeli Jews and Palestinians but also Israeli Arabs calling it an apartheid state like that of erstwhile South Africa.
Towards the end of the video shared by IIT B for Bharat, a student can be seen confronting Prof. Sharmishtha Saha for trying to politicize and vitiate the campus by screening controversial documentaries. She goes on to justify that Sudhanva is a famous director and called him a stalwart.
“Under the pretext of theatre, you are showing this kind of movies. That’s it. That is the point that I am making.” to which she says that is not a banned movie anywhere.
“It doesn’t have to be about banned films. The Kashmir Files was not banned but it was still not allowed to show here.” which Sharmishtha Saha evades from answering.
The student then goes on to say that IIT Bombay has guidelines that prohibits political events and political narratives.
IIT B for Bharat noted that the documentary was used as a tool to invite ultra-leftist Sudhanva Deshpande on the pretext of their course (HS 835 Performance Theory & Praxis), where he unabashedly glorified the terrorist activities of Zakaria Zubeidi, and Ghassan Kanafani while conveniently forgetting the latest Hamas attack.
@iitbombay Prof Sharmishtha Saha(Dept HSS)invited radical leftist Sudhanv Deshpande 2 eulogize Palestinian militants Zakaria Zubeidi, Ghassan Kanafani in the guise of the documentary when @VPIndia visited @iitbombay & cautioned students 2 not to fall prey 2 anti-Bharat narrative.… pic.twitter.com/a5HkgJqDdq
Zackary was involved in a suicide bombing in the heart of Tel Aviv that killed an Israeli woman. Kanafani was the spokesman, and editor of Al-Hadaf (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-PFLP), a revolutionary organization whose military wing targeted Israeli interests…
Just a few days back the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) had invited controversial professor Achin Vanaik to deliver a talk titled ‘The History and Politics of the Palestinian Present’. He once had also glorified suicide bombing as a very effective tool for Islamic Jihadi terrorists. This talk was later cancelled after social media outrage.
🚫 IIT Bombay cancels lecture on Israel-Palestine conflict
👥 Students requested cancellation of Hamas-sympathiser Professor Achin Vanaik's talk
💬 Vanaik's previous controversial speech sparked opposition from studentshttps://t.co/19qQVjPEWE
In a heart-wrenching incident, a 14-year-old girl from Kerala lost her life after being brutally beaten and poisoned by her own father. Fatima, a 10th-grade student, passed away after a 10-day struggle in the hospital. Her father, Abeez, aged 43, has been taken into police custody and cases were filed against him.
What Happened?
The fateful incident unfolded on the morning of 29 October 2023 at Aikarakudi house in Aluva Karumalur Mariapadi. According to authorities, Abeez attacked Fatima with a wire rod and forcibly administered weedicide into her mouth. The young girl made a courageous attempt to expel the poisonous substance, but she later vomited and became paralysed. By the time she reached a private hospital in Ernakulam, her internal organs had already suffered severe damage. She was admitted to the intensive care unit, where she fought for her life.
Why Did It Happen?
According to reports, the father Abeez, resorted to extreme measures, subjecting his daughter to brutal beatings and forcibly administering poison due to her continued relationship with a classmate from a different religious background. Despite a warning from her father a month prior, the girl persisted in the relationship. Abeez had previously confiscated her phone, but the determined girl managed to maintain contact with her classmate using another phone. Then, on 29 October 2023, a fateful Sunday, her father unleashed a violent assault, wielding an iron rod that resulted in her sustaining broken arms and legs. He also forcefully poured poison (herbicide) into her mouth during this horrific episode. It’s worth noting that neither her mother nor her father were present at home when the incident occurred. However, upon their return, her mother promptly rushed her to a nearby hospital.
The 10-Day Struggle
A magistrate visited the hospital to record Fatima’s statement, where she revealed that her father had forcefully administered the poison.
The young girl’s mother and other relatives also provided statements in the case. Fatima’s struggle in the intensive care unit at Aster Medcity lasted for 10 agonising days. Despite her grave condition, she had not lost consciousness, offering hope to her loved ones. However, her health deteriorated as the effects of the poison took their toll. Her kidney and liver functions were disrupted, and she developed ulcers in her esophagus due to the corrosive substance. In an effort to salvage her kidney function, she underwent dialysis, but unfortunately, her condition continued to worsen. On 8 November 2023, at 4:48 pm, the 10-day battle ended in tragedy, with her internal organs failing to sustain her life.
Case Filed & Arrest Made
On 1 November 2023, Alangad police registered a case and promptly arrested Abeez who worked as an engineer at a private company. The police have filed charges against Abeez under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 342, 324, 326A, and 307, as well as sections of the Juvenile Justice Act. Janam TV reported that the charges will be updated to include murder charges against Abeez.
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16 June 1801. Two brothers who were ruling the region of Sivagangai, declared from the ramparts of the Trichy Srirangam Temple the Jambutheevu Declaration – that they would not bend their knee to the British.
Cut to 222 years later, another historic proclamation was made by Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai – that he and his party would not bend their knee to a British stooge who sowed the seeds of anti-Hindu Dravidian politics.
This vow taken by Annamalai and the BJP during the En Mann En Makkal padayatra will go down in history as one of the defining moments of Tamil Nadu politics and is sure to send jitters down those who swear by the name of EVR.
The Srirangam Temple
Srirangam (Tiruvarangam) is a place of great historical and cultural significance.This temple complex stands as the oldest, largest, and arguably the most significant of all temple structures in India. With some parts dating back to at least 1500-1800 years, its antiquity is firmly established, even being referenced in the ancient Tamil epic, Silapadikkaram. The temple holds a special place in the hearts of devotees, as all the Alwars (Vaishnava saints) have composed hymns praising its grandeur.
Srirangam’s architecture is a magnificent blend of various styles, and the sheer size and intricate sculptures within the temple are truly breathtaking. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, the temple stands as a remarkable testament to India’s rich history, showcasing the influence of past empires like the Chola and Vijayanagar dynasties.
In essence, the Srirangam Temple represents the pinnacle of Hindu civilization in southern India and holds great historical and cultural significance. It is precisely for this reason that the Dravidianists in Tamil Nadu choose Srirangam to satiate their anti-Hindu itch.
What Did Annamalai Say?
Addressing a large crowd at Srirangam, Annamalai said “Outside this (Ranganathar) temple, once the DMK came to power in 1967, they kept a plaque. What does that plaque say? ‘Those who believe in God are idiots, cheats. Don’t believe in God.’ As if they’ve achieved something big, they’ve installed such a plaque with a flag. We Hindus are people who live peacefully following the path of dharma.” He further added, “Today, from this land of Srirangam, the BJP is taking a vow. Once the BJP comes to power in Tamil Nadu, the first task would be to remove that plaque and flagpole outside the temple. Statues of Azhwars and Nayanmars would be installed. Statues of Tamil scholars would be erected. Tamil scholar Thiruvalluvar’s statue will be installed. Those who sacrificed their lives during the freedom movement, their statues would be installed and worshipped. Not the statue that says ‘Those who believe in God are idiots’. As soon as the BJP comes to power, the BJP government would remove all such statues placed outside all temples.”
The placement of EVR’s statue in front of the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, who is ironically known for breaking idols of Hindu gods, has been a subject of controversy. Then CM Karunanidhi had told the Assembly that the government had allotted the land for EVR statue way back in 1973.
It was in December 2006 that a 12-feet-high EVR statute outside Srirangam temple was installed be K. Veeramani, the head of the rabid anti-Hindu outfit Dravidar Kazhagam founded by EVR.
The event saw the attendance of A Raja, the then Union Minister for Environment and Forests, as well as State Ministers K N Nehru and N Selvaraj. The DK installed the statue, despite facing vehement protests from various Hindu organizations. These protests were rooted in concerns that placing the statue of an atheist and inscribing atheist slogans on the pedestal could potentially offend the religious sentiments of devout Hindus. Notably, several parts of Tamil Nadu experienced isolated incidents of violence after activists from the Indhu Makkal Katchi (IMK) damaged a life-size cement statue of Periyar on 7 December 2006.
Attack On Ayodhya Mandapam, Chennai
On the afternoon of 8 December 2006, around 3:30 PM, a distressing incident took place at Sri Ram Samaj, also known as Ayodhya Mandapam, a prominent Ram temple and religious centre located in the heart of Chennai, West Mambalam. Allegedly, a group of approximately 15 Dravidian activists arrived at the temple in two autorickshaws, armed with dangerous weapons, and issued threats to passersby, proclaiming, “Don’t spare anyone wearing sacred threads or marks like Tilak or Vibhuti on their foreheads, thrash them.”
Subsequently, they initiated an attack on the temple. Their actions began with the throwing of an acid bomb into the temple complex. The acid struck a screen and ignited a fire. When devotees rushed to extinguish the flames, the activists hurled a petrol bomb at both the murtis outside the temple and another one inside the temple itself. During this chaotic incident, they claimed their actions were in retaliation for the previous damage to the EVR statue situated outside the renowned Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam.
In addition to their assault on the temple, the activists also targeted individuals nearby including a poor Brahmin who sold pooja items on the footpath outside the temple as well as the flower seller.
Slipper Garland For Sri Rama In Hosur
In Hosur, located in the Krishnagiri district, a distressing incident unfolded where a picture depicting the coronation of Lord Sri Ram was disrespected. A group of activists affiliated with the Pudiya Jananayaka Munnetra Kazhagam (New Democratic Progressive Party) gathered at the Sri Ram temple near the Gandhi Statue to condemn the damage to the statue. During their protest, these activists placed a picture of Sri Rama outside the temple and garlanded it with slippers. They then proceeded to carry the picture in a procession before setting it on fire near the Gandhi statue. In response to this action, a large number of supporters from the BJP, Hindu Munnani, and RSS arrived at the scene.
Tensions escalated, leading to a confrontation between the supporters of EVR and those of the aforementioned groups. During this clash, Parsuraman, the one who set the picture on fire, sustained a head injury, which resulted in bleeding. Following this altercation, the BJP and its supporters blocked the roads and demanded immediate action be taken in response to the incident.
In the Maravaneri area of Salem, the Kanchi Shankara Math runs a math and a vedapatasala. To protest against the damage inflicted on the statue in Srirangam, they attacked the math, ransacked the premises.
The activists went on to ransack the premises, causing extensive destruction. Tables, chairs, and pooja items were ruthlessly smashed and scattered. Pictures of Shankaracharya Jayendra and Vijayendra Saraswathis were not spared and were shattered into pieces. Their rampage extended to include telephones, tube lights, and bulbs.
In the aftermath of this unfortunate event, authorities arrested five activists associated with the Periyar Dravidian Party, Tamil Youth Party, and Tamil National Party.
Setting Fire To Sri Rama Picture In Srirangam
Around 50 individuals, affiliated with the People’s Arts and Literature Association, gathered near the Srirangam temple, carrying images of Lord Ram. They staged a protest by setting fire to these images, leading to heightened tension in the area. The police promptly intervened, arresting those responsible for burning the image of Lord Ram and taking them to the police station. The Dravidar Kazhagam decided to replace the damaged statue of Periyar with a five-and-a-half-foot-tall bronze statue.
Vinayakar Temples Attacked, Murtis Desecrated Near Villupuram
In Sankarapuram, located in Villupuram district, a Vinayaka temple near the taluk office fell victim to vandalism.
Miscreants, allegedly affiliated with the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, uprooted and subsequently smashed two Ganesh murtis. Another nearby temple, Shakti Vinayakar, was also subjected to damage, with the Vimana tower and Nandi statues dismembered. The town’s residents, led by supporters of the RSS and Hindu Munnani who had come to offer morning prayers, were left in shock by the destruction. In response, they gathered in large numbers, blocking the Tiruvannamalai-Kallakurichi road. The miscreants left a note claiming that this act was in retaliation for the damage caused to the EVR statue and an Ambedkar statue.
Raghavendra Swamy Temple Ransacked In Erode
In Erode, the Raghavendra Brindavanam is situated in the Kaarai Vaaykal area on Agraharam Street. Preparations were underway for the Sayarakshai Puja. At around 5:15 PM that day, a group of volunteers associated with the Dravidar Kazhagam calmly entered the temple. Suddenly, they launched an attack on anyone in their sight, causing destruction wherever they could. They proceeded to enter the sanctum sanctorum and removed the presiding deity, Sri Ram, who was positioned between the murtis of Sitadevi and Hanuman. The murti was uprooted and taken to the street outside, where it was mercilessly smashed with a hammer.
During this disturbing incident, a priest named Narasimhan attempted to intervene and was subsequently beaten. A 60-year-old priest named Venkatraman Acharya was also assaulted, and his “kudumi” (Shikha/tuft) was removed while his sacred thread was cut.
The temple cook, Balaji, and several others fell victim to the violence. The murtis and items prepared for the evening’s “Oonjal Sevai” were vandalised. Upon learning of this incident, hundreds of devotees gathered at the site.
Volunteers from the RSS and Hindu Munnani protested to the police, while some devotees openly expressed their grief. Seven individuals affiliated with the Thanthai Periyar Dravida Iyakkam were detained in connection with these distressing events.
Attack On Individuals
A group of individuals in Mettur including Chemplast Industries Vice President Parthasarathy and four others, was subjected to an attack. Members associated with the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) were subsequently apprehended in connection with this incident.
Tamil Nadu has not been as peaceful as it is showcased to be. Anyone speaking or acting against the Dravidian ideologues is attacked and free speech suppressed. This was the sequence of events that happened after a statue was damaged.
Will Annamalai’s vow see the light of day? Only time will tell.
(with inputs from the Reality Check India website)
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History enthusiasts and archaeologists from Thiruvannamalai have recently made a remarkable discovery that has unveiled the rich cultural heritage of the region. In the rustic village of Thalavanur, nestled alongside Gingee, a set of breathtaking 1,400-year-old sculptures has been brought to light, shedding new light on the historical narrative of this ancient land.
Historians Raj Panneerselvam and Vedal Vijayan, hailing from Thiruvannamalai, embarked on a field inspection mission in the vicinity of Gingee in Villupuram district. During their survey, an unexpected revelation took place. Hidden within the picturesque fields, just behind the imposing Pancha Pandava hill, the historians stumbled upon these extraordinary relics of the past.
The most prominent discovery among the artifacts was a substantial relief sculpture, measuring an impressive 4 feet in height and spanning 3 feet in width, etched onto a slab stone. This marvel of ancient craftsmanship is believed to be a depiction of thavvai. Thavvai is the elder sister of Goddess Lakshmi and is also known by the name Jyeshta Devi. The astounding part is that this sculpture dates back to the 7th century, providing a fascinating window into the spiritual and artistic expressions of that era.
Upon further examination of the field, the historians uncovered two more stone slab sculptures, strategically positioned a short distance away. These sculptures, intricately carved, were identified as representations of ‘Kottravai’ and ‘Murugan’. Kottravai is the Tamil Hindu goddess of war and victory. She is revered as the mother of God Murugan and hence is considered as an embodiment of Parvati/Durga. Astonishingly, these sculptures are believed to be approximately 1,400 years old, reinforcing the historical significance of the site.
Earlier in 2021, the Uttiramerur Historical Research Center unearthed a statue of Jyeshta Devi, about 1800 years old, in the village of Ullambakkam near Vayalur in Kanchipuram District.
Prior to that, a 1000-year-old idol of Jyeshta Devi was found in the temple area when municipality workers were digging a canal near the Kulambeeswarar temple.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai has touched the raw nerve of the DMK and other Dravidianist parties saying that the statue of EV Ramasamy Naicker (hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers) outside the Ranganathar Temple in Srirangam and all other temples would be removed once BJP comes to power in the state.
Addressing a massive crowd in Srirangam on 7 November 2023, Annamalai said “Outside this (Ranganathar) temple, once the DMK came to power in 1967, they kept a plaque. What does that plaque say? ‘Those who believe in God are idiots, cheats. Don’t believe in God.’ As if they’ve achieved something big, they’ve installed such a plaque with a flag. We Hindus are people who live peacefully following the path of dharma.”
Adding further, the BJP Tamil Nadu chief said “Today, from this land of Srirangam, the BJP is taking a vow. Once the BJP comes to power in Tamil Nadu, the first task would be to remove that plaque and flagpole outside the temple. Statues of Azhwars and Nayanmars would be installed. Statues of Tamil scholars would be erected. Tamil scholar Thiruvalluvar’s statue will be installed. Those who sacrificed their lives during the freedom movement, their statues would be installed and worshipped. Not the statue which says ‘Those who believe in God are idiots’. As soon as the BJP comes to power, the BJP government would remove all such statues placed outside all temples.”
A 12-feet-high EVR statute outside Srirangam temple was installed be K. Veeramani, the head of the rabid anti-Hindu outfit Dravidar Kazhagam founded by EVR in the December 2006.
The event saw the attendance of A Raja, the then Union Minister for Environment and Forests, as well as State Ministers K N Nehru and N Selvaraj. The DK installed the statue, despite facing vehement protests from various Hindu organizations. These protests were rooted in concerns that placing the statue of an atheist and inscribing atheist slogans on the pedestal could potentially offend the religious sentiments of devout Hindus. Notably, several parts of Tamil Nadu experienced isolated incidents of violence after activists from the Indhu Makkal Katchi (IMK) damaged a life-size cement statue of Periyar on 7 December 2006.
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The Thiruppanandal Kasi Matham in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu has been doing social work for more than 300 years and runs many educational institutions. Lands belonging to the Matham were given for free to build school buildings and hospitals. Since 1874, the Poigai Pond in the Kasi Mutt complex has been constructed and used extensively by the Kasi Mutt. Nathan, a retired Tahsildar and general manager of the Math, said that the temple tirthavari utsavam is held annually at Poigai Pond. It is mentioned in the records/register that 0.74.5 hectares in plot no. 702/3 (old plot no. 248/1pa) in Thiruppanandal East village belongs to the Poigai pond.
Demolition Of The Wall
On 30 October, 2023, the Kasi Thirumadam in Thiruppanandal, Thanjavur district, experienced a distressing incident. A group of individuals, arriving in two separate groups, completely demolished the 400-foot perimeter wall surrounding the sacred Poigai pond within the Matham premises. The manager filed a police complaint after the discovery by an on-site employee, Vridhakiri. Preliminary assessments suggest a damage cost of nearly ₹2 lakh. The investigation is ongoing to identify those responsible for this act, and local authorities have promised swift action to safeguard the sacred site and ensure public safety. The Police are on the lookout for Tamil National Development League State Media Division Secretary Muhammad Bilal and General Secretary Karthikeyan.
Some devotees insisted that considering the safety of a pool, a protective wall must be built around it. They said, “Similarly, a wall was built around the Poigai pond. The water source is also properly protected. Now among the assets of the math, a variety of distractions can occur, appropriate legal action should be taken against those who cause encroachments and law and order problems,”.
Tiruppanandal Swaminatha Swamigal Arts College Principal, Mohan said, “Various educational institutions such as Tamil College, 2 Arts College, Higher Secondary School, Middle School, Primary School, Matric Higher Secondary School are running through Kasi Math’s Kumaragurupara Swamy Educational Group. In all these educational institutions, 45 faculty members and 1107 students from Scheduled Tribes have benefited in the current year. He said that all the students of the villages around this area are benefiting from education in these educational institutions. Therefore, the activities of Thirumatham are running on the principle that everyone is equal without caste discrimination.”
What Does The Epigraphic Evidence Say?
An inscription dated 17.08.1941 installed in the premises at Poigai Pond reveals several sources related to Poigai Pond. Here are the details of its recent renovations:
* In 1874, during the reign of Thiruppanandal Kasimadam 14th pontiff Srilasri Kasivasi Ramalinga Swami, the Poigai pond was dug. Around the pond, handrails, steps, etc. were also constructed.
* In 1900, during the reign of the 16th pontiff Srilasri Kasivasi Somakandara Swami, the steps were renovated with granite.
* In 1941 during the reign of the 19th pontiff Srilasree Kasivasi Swaminatha Swami, the pond was cleaned, and steps were repaired and Neerazhi Mandapam was built at a height.
* The 20th pontiff Srilasri Kasivasi Arulnandi Dhampiran Swami installed the silver marble Kashi Vinayagar brought from Varanasi in the Neerazhi Mandapam of Poigai Pond and performed Kumbabhishekam.
* Since 1972, the 21st pontiff Srilasri Kasivasi Muthukumara Swami Thambiran Swami began his work in this pond in 2021 and completed it in March 2022.
Dharmapuram Adheenam Appeals To CM Stalin For Taking Action Against Miscreants
Dharumapuram Adheenam’s 27th pontiff Guru Maha Sannithanam Srilasri Masilamani Desika Gnanasambanda Swamigal has appealed to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to take action against miscreants who destroyed the perimeter of the pond of the Thiruppanandal Kasi Math.
In a Facebook post, the Dharumapura Adheenam pontiff said “To the attention of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the wall of Tiruppanandal Kasi Matham which is also considered as a subsidiary of the Dharumapuram Adheen was been broken and damaged at night by anti-social elements. This has shocked the Saivite community. No matter who the perpetrators are, they have to be punished immediately. Kumaragurubar had stopped the religious riots in the northern parts and reconciled religions. foundation is working for education and society throughout the country. The Matam is working for education and society throughout the country and we want to find a suitable solution to this and establish justice, peace and social harmony!
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