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Agre Pashyami: A Masterpiece Of Devotion And Artistry

By
Hridya
-
Image Credit - Anitha Guha Bharathanjali

In her bustling household, my maternal grandmother frequently recited a cherished verse as a part of her daily routine. With her every step, she carried a melody that resonated through the kitchen, a hymn that invoked the very essence of Krishna himself.

“Agre Pashyami,” she would intone, her voice carrying a devotion that spanned centuries. These verses from the 100th dasakam (chapter) of the revered Narayaneeyam, composed by the illustrious Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri in the 16th century, were more than just words. They were a portal to a realm where love and surrender to the divine intertwined in poetic grace.

Narayaneeyam, a tapestry woven from the threads of devotion, weaves together the life and exploits of Lord Krishna, drawing from the sacred Bhagavata Purana. Composed in pursuit of divine healing, this masterpiece stands as a testament to the miraculous power of faith. In its 100th dasakam, an ailing Bhattathiri was blessed with a vision, and in verse, he painted the very form of Krishna he beheld.

अग्रे पश्यामि तेजो निबिडतरकलायावलीलोभनीयं

पीयूषाप्लावितोऽहं तदनु तदुदरे दिव्यकैशोरवेषम् ।

तारुण्यारम्भरम्यं परमसुखरसास्वादरोमाञ्चिताङ्गै-

रावीतं नारदाद्यैर्विलसदुपनिषत्सुन्दरीमण्डलैश्च ॥१॥

agre pashyaami tejO nibiDatara kalaayaavalii lObhaniiyaM

piiyuuShaaplaavitO(a)haM tadanu tadudare divyakaishOraveSham |

taaruNyaarambharamyaM paramasukha rasaasvaada rOmaa~nchitaangaiH

aaviitaM naaradaadyairvilasadupaniShat sundarii maNDalaishcha || 

Translates to:

Oh, GuruvAyurappA! I see in your sannidhi a bright blue thEjas(effulgence) having the hue of KaasAmpoo (KalAya Flower) pushpa cluster. I am now immersed in that deep nectarine experience. Next, I see in the middle of that blue effulgence, a beautiful child at the beginning of youth and surrounded by admirers like Sage NaaradhA with joyous horripilation and the various Upanishads in the form of lovely ladies singing Your praise.

Fast forward to an October evening in Chennai, where the spirit of Narayaneeyam came alive in a mesmerizing spectacle aptly titled “Agre Pashyami.” Conceptualised meticulously by the eloquent Upanyasaka Dushyanth Sridhar and the renowned Bharatnatyam exponent Anita Guha, this production is truly a dedication to Lord Guruvayurappan.

The distinguished guests of honour for the evening included Smt. Sheela Balaji is associated with Swami Dayananda Saraswati’s “AIM For Seva,” a noble initiative founded in 2000 to bring education and healthcare within reach of children in rural areas of India. Also in attendance was Shri Srinivasan from the Vikatan Group. During the event, the compere/emcee shared with the audience the diverse philanthropic endeavours undertaken by the Desika Daya Trust. Their initiatives spanned across the country, from supporting patashalas to restoring and preserving temples in and around Tamil Nadu.

The stage was set for an evening of transcendence as the curtains went up at Narada Gana Sabha; the air thrummed with anticipation. The performance unfolded like a divine tapestry, Dushyanth’s narration guiding us through the celestial odyssey. 

The performance commenced with a Seeveli ritual, and we were granted the divine darshan of Lord Guruvayurappa. In a remarkable portrayal, a young girl embodied the deity, standing perfectly still, radiating a continuous and serene smile reminiscent of the Lord’s presence at His Abode in Guruvayur.

Each act, a brushstroke of devotion, revealed the avatars of Lord Mahavishnu. The gasp that escaped the audience as Koormavataram graced the stage bore witness to the spell woven by the artists on stage.

Next in line were the captivating scenes depicting Lord Shiva consuming the Halahala poison, followed by the grandeur of the Varaha avatar, where Bhagawan valiantly protected and rescued Bhoomadevi.

Then came the awe-inspiring enactment of the Narasimhavataram, a performance that completely enthralled the audience in the auditorium. as He tore into Hiranyakasipu. The stunning visual effects further elevated the mesmerising dance sequence, leaving the spectators spellbound. 

Ramavatharam followed with the “capture” of Lord Hanuman, a beacon of brilliance. The music, a symphony of emotions, echoed through the auditorium, and hearts danced evoking the scene’s emotions perfectly with the spirit of Hanuman.

Then came Kalinga Nardhanam, where the stage pulsed with the dance of Lord Krishna subduing the serpent. Mohiniattam wove its magic in portraying Rasakreeda (Rasa Leela), a testament to the diversity of Indian classical dance forms.

And then, a crescendo of devotion, as the Vishwaroopam moment, aka Bhattathiri’s ‘Agre pashyami’ moment unfolded. Many Krishnas graced the stage, a reminder that the divine is all-pervading in every glance, every breath.

As the tale of the Dashavatharam unfolded, Bhattathiri, too, bore witness (along with the audience) to the divine manifestations of the Lord Himself. The artist portraying Bhattathiri skillfully expressed a range of emotions effortlessly as he played his part convincingly, from tears welling in his eyes to the sheer bliss that overcame him when he gets the Vishwaroopam darshan – the audience saw him as Bhattathiri.

Anita Guha’s finesse, honed by years of dedication, shone through every movement and every expression. Familiar melodies from childhood, like “Karuna cheyvan yendu thamasam Krishna…,” a Malayalam keertanam composed by Irayimman Thampi on Guruvayurappan, flooded the heart with cherished memories.

In toto, the music, composed by Dr. Rajkumar Bharati, wove its charm, carrying the legacy of his freedom fighter, renaissance poet great grandfather, Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, the soundscape, crafted by Sai Shravanam, was nothing short of magic. The singers elevated the experience further.

As the final note hung in the air, the audience in a standing ovation – a wave of gratitude for the artists and the team who had painted the divine on the canvas of our hearts. Special mention must be made of the young volunteers from Desika Daya, who graciously escorted all the guests to their seats. This gesture deserves commendation, especially considering that a significant portion of the audience consisted of senior citizens. Given the seating arrangements at Narada Gana Sabha, their thoughtful initiative was truly praiseworthy.

In the embrace of “Agre Pashyami,” time seemed to stand still, transporting the audience for those two hours to the realm of Mahavishnu himself, where everyone was drenched in a dance of devotion, leaving us all with a yearning to realise the Krishna within.

(Hridya is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Chennai.)

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Christian Villagers In Thoothukudi Boycott After 3 Convert To Islam, Double Standards Of Dravidianist Media Exposed

By
The Commune
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Fishermen from Kombuthurai, a part of the Kayalpattinam municipality, have been staying ashore for the past 11 days to express their disapproval of three Christian fishermen who recently converted to Islam.

The recent converts, namely Anthony Frango (Mohammed Frango), Sebastian (Esa), and Wilfred (Salim), have raised concerns that the Kombuthurai fishermen association prevented them from fishing and selling their catch at Kombuthurai beach, although this claim is contested by the Christian fishermen.

What Happened

According to a Dinamalar report, they were banished by a khap panchayat from attending a public fish auction after the duo converted to Islam as their conversion did not go well with the 200 fishermen living in the village who follow Catholic Christianity.

One of the converts mentioned that they have been restricted from fishing activities for the past four months and have been working as fisher coolies to support their families. They also highlighted that they were denied access to tractors provided by the Kombuthurai Christian fishermen to launch their boats into the sea. They were apparently helped by the neighboring Iykiya Muslim Peravai who offered a tractor, but the local Christian fishermen prevented them from using it.

The district administration has organized another peace meeting for 3 October 2023 to mediate the dispute between the converts, village leaders, and Christian fishermen.

While the matter prima facie looks like a case of Christian villagers boycotting the three persons for converting to Islam, the matter has been underplayed by the mainstream media as a dispute over name of the village. There is a dispute regarding whether ‘Kadaiya’ is the historical name of the Kombuthurai hamlet, and this matter is currently pending in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. 

The New Indian Express (TNIE) reported that the Christian villagers of Kombuthurai have objected to the use of the name ‘Kadayakudi’. According to the TNIE report, the Kombuthurai fishermen allege that the fishermen who converted to Islam have been calling their village ‘Kadaiyakudi,’ which has caused frustration among the Roman Catholic fishermen in Kombuthurai. 

The Double-Standards Of The Dravidianist Media

Except for Dinamalar and TNIE, no other mainstream media in Tamil Nadu has even reported about the issue. However, in July 2023, there was significant media attention surrounding a situation in Poompuhar, a historically significant port during the Early Chola rule, where Hindu fishermen were reported to have cut off communication with converted Christians. BBC Tamil conducted an ‘in-depth’ investigation and carried an elaborate report into allegations that Hindus had ostracized the converts and encouraged them to return to Hinduism if they wished to reintegrate into the community. The report demonized the Hindus who boycotted their fellow members for converting to Christianity as the converts started abusing the former. 

Around 300 Hindu families are said to have converted to Christianity during this period. Given that Poompuhar was originally an all-Hindu village, community elders purportedly decided to boycott those who had converted, while welcoming back those who had returned to Hinduism. Allegedly, converts were subjected to fines, had business dealings severed, and all forms of communication were terminated. According to the BBC report, families gradually began returning to the Hindu faith one by one in response to these restrictions.

However, 22 families continued to adhere to Christianity, leveling various accusations against the Hindu community. These allegations included claims of being barred from participating in significant life events such as births, marriages, and funerals of their relatives, as well as encountering obstacles in their businesses. Subsequently, 15 more converted families chose to return to Hinduism, yet seven families remained steadfast in their Christian beliefs. They filed complaints with the district administration, leading to the initiation of peace talks.

During interviews with BBC, the Hindu side contended, “We are simply keeping our distance from them (the converts) due to differences in beliefs. Their allegations are baseless.” The village head, a Hindu, explained, “They are attempting to convert everyone, which we do not accept. They are following their faith, and we are doing the same. We do not engage with them because they attempt to impose Christianity on us and insult our deities. They converted ten years ago and continue to reside in our village. How can they claim that we are threatening them?“

“They wish to interact with us because their children have grown up, and they wish to arrange marriages. However, why should we accept them when they do not respect our traditions? There are seven thousand people living here. If we make concessions for them, we will have to do the same for everyone. They should be the ones to adhere to the village’s rules. We cannot change our way of life for them.”

The district collector, who participated in the peace talks, stated, “We can intervene if a shopkeeper refuses to sell goods to specific individuals. However, what can we do when individuals choose not to communicate?” The BBC report suggests that the Hindu community in the village cut off communication with the converts only after allegations of abuse of Hindu practices and attempts to convert them to Christianity arose. Despite this context, some media outlets portrayed it as a form of untouchability, disregarding the initial provocations. This raises questions about media coverage in cases where Christian converts have ostracized Muslim converts, with very few reports on such instances.

(With inputs from Hindu Post)

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Shivamogga Skirmish: Swords Brandished, Huge Cutout Of Tipu, Akhand Bharat Map Painted Green With “Muslim Empire” And Aurangzeb Pic

By
The Commune
-

On Monday (2 October 2023), the district administration of Shivamogga in Karnataka imposed Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the Ragi Gudda area of the town. This measure was taken in response to clashes that erupted between two communities on Sunday evening during the celebration of Eid Milad. Section 144 is a legal provision that restricts gatherings of more than four people in a specific area to maintain law and order, particularly during times of tension or unrest.

According to reports, the incident happened during the Eid Milad celebrations (birthday of Prophet Mohammed) where a huge cutout of Muslim tyrant Tipu Sultan was erected glorifying him. A large knife, with two saffron-colored figures hanging from it was decorated and shown in full display.

The situation escalated when stones were thrown in the Ragi Gudda area.

Allegedly, Muslims celebrating Prophet Mohammad’s birthday started pelting stones at houses and vehicles, resulting in injuries to several individuals. These actions were reportedly triggered by unconfirmed rumors of stone-pelting on the Eid Milad procession.

Local authorities have urged the public not to spread rumors, as it could exacerbate the situation. However, they have been criticized for not addressing the provocation stemming from the display of a map of Akhand Bharat in green with the image of Aurangzeb under the title “Muslim Empire”.

In any situation of civil unrest or violence, it is essential to rely on credible news sources, official statements, and first-hand information. Video footage circulating on social media depicts even the police facing aggression during the stone-pelting incident. In one video, a woman can be heard exclaiming, “They are beating the police.” Another video shows Muslims waving flags and swords while the police appear to be passive observers. In contrast, just three days prior, Hindus conducted their annual Ganapati Visarjana procession without any reports of violence or vandalism.

Shivamogga Superintendent of Police Mithun Kumar said, “There was a stone pelting incident in Ragigudda last evening. However, we managed to disperse the crowd and the situation is under control now. Around four to five people sustained minor injuries. Section 144 is in force in Ragi Gudda to prevent any untoward incident,” ANI.

 Video evidence shows that once the stone pelting started, even the police were not spared and in the video which is being viewed on social media, one can hear a woman saying ‘Yappa they are beating police’.

In another video, one can see Muslims waving their flags and swords as the police watch as mute spectators. On the contrary, just 3 days ago Hindus had taken their annual Ganapati Visarjana in a fanfare procession but there was no act of violence or vandalism.

Maternal Deaths And Alleged Medical Manipulations Rock Madurai Govt Hospital, Dravidian Model Of Healthcare In Question Once Again

By
The Commune
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Three maternal deaths occurred at Madurai Medical College Hospital / Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH), and it has been alleged that doctors manipulated the case sheets and patient records after the deaths. As a result of the investigation by the Madurai Collector, there is a recommendation to suspend one of the doctors involved. In protest of this recommendation, the doctors at GRH have decided to halt elective surgeries. Here is a look at each of these maternal deaths in detail which has been brought to light by The New Indian Express journalist Thinakaran Rajamani.

Death Of Semmalar

Regarding the maternal death of Semmalar, the Madurai Collector conducted an audit on 3 September 2023, with the Corporation Health Officer, JD Health, and a Duty Assistant Professor from GRH present. During this audit, a copy of the case sheet was photocopied. The Collector then instructed the Duty Assistant OG to provide a copy of the case sheet for a detailed audit, which was received by the PHC medical officer on 4 September 2023.

Image Source – Thinakaran Rajamani Twitter Handle

Upon comparing the case sheet from 3 September 2023 to the one received on 4 September 2023, the Collector identified several discrepancies, including:

  1. Rewriting of notes and deletion of treatment prescriptions on 28 August 2023, at 05:15 p.m.
  2. Rewriting of the call-over to the cardiologist on 28 August 2023.
  3. Full notes rewritten on 28 August 2023, at 7 p.m.
  4. Rewriting of the full page and deletion of treatment prescription on 29 August 2023, at 7 a.m.
  5. Addition of signatures to notes on 29 August 2023, at 1 pm and 7 pm.
  6. Absence of documented BT (Bleeding time)/CT (Clotting time) on 31 August 2023, but subsequent documentation after an inquiry by the Collector.
  7. Inclusion of new notes on 31 August 2023, at 5 p.m. and 5.15 p.m., detailing episodes of chills & rigors, vomiting, and abdominal distension.
  8. Documentation of ‘Chief Informed’ after death on 31 August 2023, at 5.45 pm, along with the insertion of a signature.
  9. Addition of ‘On Mechanical Ventilator’ after death on 31 August 2023, at 06.00 pm.
  10. Inclusion of notes about TEG and ordering cryo in the notes on 31 August 2023, at 02:00 a.m.
  11. Complete page change on 1 September 2023, at 07.00 am.
  12. Complete page insertion on 1 September 2023, at 08.00 am.
  13. Complete rewriting of the cardiology and radiology call-over page on 1 September 2023.

The Madurai Collector concludes that it is evident that the OG department at GRH fabricated the case sheet after the maternal death to favor their position.

Death Of Kuppi

On 7 September 2023, Collector Sangeetha held a maternal death audit for Kuppi, who had passed away on 5 September 2023 at GRH in Madurai. During the audit, she discovered that the hospital had manipulated the patient’s records.

Image Source: Thinakaran Rajamani Twitter Handle

Changes made before and after the patient’s death included:

Initially, there were no treatment notes recorded for the patient’s visit to Unit (II) OG on 18 July 2023, only the unit seal was entered. However, after the patient’s death, the HR number, along with a description/diagnosis, was entered into the patient’s treatment notes, as if a diagnosis had been made previously. Additionally, ECHO notes were entered on the same page. Advice regarding admission was also retrospectively entered into the patient’s treatment notes after the maternal death.

Collector Sangeetha also noted that the Department of OG at GRH Madurai did not assign an OG specialist to conduct PMSMA (Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan) high-risk camps at Zonal PHCs (Primary Health Centers) as per the guidelines. This was in contrast to GH doctors who were conducting camps at Block PHCs in Madurai District.

In response to these findings, instructions were given to suspend the Medical Officer at GRH Madurai responsible for fabricating the case sheet and patient records. It was also mandated that PMSMA high-risk camps be conducted at Zonal PHCs in accordance with the guidelines.

However, as of the date of this communication, no action had been taken by the Dean and Head of Department (HOD) of OG at GRH. Therefore, a request was made to instruct the Dean of GRH Madurai to take appropriate action in this matter.

Death Of Thilagavathi & Subsequent Complaints By Medical College And PHC Doctors

On 29 September 2023, the unfortunate maternal death of Thilagavathi occurred. Sources indicated that there was a dispute between the Corporation Health Officer (CHO) and PHC doctors, who believed the cause of death to be postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), and the medical college (GRH) doctors, who suspected dengue as the cause. This suspicion arose because Thilagavathi’s husband had received dengue treatment at a private hospital. The CHO’s team reportedly took a blood sample from Thilagavathi’s body at GRH in an attempt to support their claim.

In response to this situation, the medical college doctors at GRH wrote a letter to the Dean of the institution, expressing their opposition to the actions taken by the CHO’s team. They criticized the CHO’s team for entering GRH, making photocopies of patient records, and other activities.

Following this, 22 Primary Health Center (PHC) Medical Officers composed a letter addressed to their Corporation Commissioner. In the letter, they pointed out that a significant number of maternal deaths in Madurai district had occurred at the medical college (GRH) hospital after referrals from their PHCs. They highlighted the district Collector’s findings regarding the fabrication of case sheets as part of their concerns.

The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA) has adopted a resolution in which they call for the suspension of the Corporation Health Officer (CHO) and request that approximately three out of six Maternal Death Audits be discontinued.

TNGDA has accused the CHO of providing information to a newspaper, claiming that maternal deaths are being concealed. In the event that their demands are not met, TNGDA decided to cease conducting elective surgeries starting from 3 September 2023.

This news comes at a time when there is a visible spike in the cases of alleged medical negligence in government hospitals in the state, some involving women and children. Very recently, a woman who went to the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai for an angio treatment had to get her arm amputated allegedly due to medical negligence of the doctors.

The healthcare system in Tamil Nadu is facing severe challenges, particularly affecting the underprivileged population. It is crucial for the DMK government, which takes pride in the “Dravidian Model” and portrays Tamil Nadu as a pioneer in healthcare, to address these issues promptly.

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Congress Govt In Karnataka Bans Carpooling, Could This Be The Reason?

By
The Commune
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The Congress government in Karnataka on Saturday (30 September 2023) took a strange decision wherein anyone who is carpooling in Bengaluru will suffer a heavy fine from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 and the ruling Congress party has also mandated that passengers not take rides from any of the carpooling apps. 

This unfortunate decision was taken after the government was held hostage by the taxi driver associations who are blaming carpooling services are affecting their daily earnings. As per the new law set forth by the transport department of Karnataka, any whiteboard vehicles for commercial commute purposes will be deemed as ‘illegal’, and said that a fine can be levied ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 if anyone is found operating the carpooling services.

This ban will impact many ride-hailing apps like BlaBla Car, Quickride, Rideshare, Commute Easy, and Carpool Adda and if commuters are forced not to use any of these apps, it will impact their business with a strong possibility of companies laying off employees. Also, affected will be the tens of thousands of IT professionals who use these services to commute to work from their homes and find this service stress-free.

Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has also mentioned that further steps regarding the banning of bike taxis will be considered after a legal assessment.

It is a fact that carpooling for a city like Bangalore where traffic is a major source of problems is the best way to reduce the number of vehicles on Bengaluru roads during peak hours.

Bengaluru has one of the highest traffic densities for any major city in the country and with a population of 11 million and growing, Bengaluru has close to 12.5 million vehicles, which means there are more vehicles per person living in the city.

As per a new report, Bengaluru has suffered a loss of ₹19,725 crore per year due to its traffic delays, congestion, stoppage of signals, time loss, fuel loss, and related factors

Taxi associations and auto-rickshaw drivers’ unions argue that carpooling services are adversely affecting their daily earnings.

However, auto-drivers themselves had blamed the free-bus ride scheme for women introduced by the Karnataka Congress government for fall in their business. 

The Siddaramaiah government taking a leaf out of its ally DMK’s playbook in Tamil Nadu introduced the Shakti Scheme offering free bus rides for women from June 2023.

“My friends and I tirelessly campaigned for the Congress, going door-to-door to garner support. Our dedication led to our families voting for Congress. We proudly displayed their posters on our autos, believing in the promises they made. Little did we know that the consequences of our votes would come back to haunt us,” a disappointed auto driver was quoted saying in a report by Outlook. 

An auto-driver from Majestic Bus Stand The Commune spoke to said that earlier he used to get frequent trips for short commutes to metro station but the free bus ride for women has drastically hit his business.

Some have also alleged another ulterior motive behind this decision of the government. 

The Karnataka Congress government led by CM Siddaramaiah, has introduced a subsidy program for minority community members, offering them a ₹3 lakh subsidy towards the purchase of a four-wheeler vehicle of their choice.

The Karnataka budget unveiled in July 2023 by CM Siddaramaiah introduced three schemes, including the vehicle subsidy program “Swavalambi Sarathi,” for minority communities as well as SC/ST and backward classes.

Under the scheme, eligible individuals can purchase a four-wheeler valued at up to ₹8 lakhs, with the government providing a ₹3 lakh subsidy. Additionally, the government will facilitate bank loans for the remaining amount. This program had been in place during the previous Siddaramaiah regime but was removed by the BJP government. The former Bommai-led BJP government had a similar scheme for people from minority communities which provided a subsidy of ₹75,000 for the purchase of new goods and passenger auto rickshaws along with subsidies for the purchase of taxis. But this scheme later became inactive. 

Rajesh, an IT professional from Whitefield who uses carpooling and sometimes bike taxi services for commuting to office alleged that votebank politics could also be a reason for the banning of car pooling.

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Madurai Bench Denies Bail To 12 Booked For Making Hindu Parents Pull Their Kids Out Of TN Govt-Aided Christian School Over Fear Of Conversion

By
The Commune
-
Feature Image Courtesy: BBC Tamil, The Hill

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court denied bail to 12 individuals who were accused of stoking communal tensions by a Tahsildar in Tenkasi district allegedly for mobilizing people in a village to withdraw their wards from a government-aided Christian school as they feared proselytization attempts.

Acchankuttam is a village located in Veerakeralampudur taluk of Tenkasi district in Tamil Nadu home to approximately 1000 families, with the majority being Hindus and a minority following Christianity. In this village, there exists a government-aided TDTA Primary School, overseen by the Tirunelveli District Trust Association (TDTA) and managed by the Tirunelveli CSI Diocese. In 2018, the school was shifted to another location as the building became old. Following the relocation of this government-aided school, which had been in operation for over half a century, the school’s administration decided to construct a church on the former school premises which was opposed by the villagers.

In March of 2023, Hindu parents residing in Acchankuttam village took a significant step by stopping more than a 100 of their children to the school due to concerns about proselytization. Parents have claimed that their children were being engaged in prayer activities, which raised concerns.

According to a report by BBC Tamil, Azhagu Muthu, a resident of Acchankuttam, stated that she noticed change in her children’s behavior. She said that her children when asked to pray, would say we will do “jebam” (like Christians say).

“My husband Subramaniam works as a labourer. I work at a beedi factory. Till last year, my eldest daughter studied in the 4th standard, youngest daughter in the 3rd standard, and son in 1st standard at this school. After the school moved to a new location in the north of the town, the children’s behaviour began to change. If I asked them to pray, they said we will “do jabam” (as Christians say). The change in the way the children spoke and behaved alarmed us. We did not send our children to that school after that for fear that they would change their religion,” Azhagu Muthu had said according to the BBC report as translated by the Hindu Post.

She also highlighted that she and many others from her village had received their primary education at this school without such issues in the past.

Soundar Raj, a resident with a son studying in the school in question, raised concerns about conversion efforts at the school. He mentioned that students were being compelled to purchase books related to Christianity, and he opted not to send his son to that school. He emphasized the need for a government school within their town as a permanent solution.

The parents obtained transfer certificates and have appealed to the Tenakasi District Collector and the education department to establish a government school within Acchankuttam. Presently, more than 150 students have withdrawn from the school and according to a report by Daily Thanthi, 76 students have got Transfer Certificates.

The village currently has only one government-aided primary school in the town center, with another school located about 6 kilometers away. Residents find it impractical for their children to travel such a distance on their own and have urged the authorities to establish a government school within their village. They also submitted a petition to Chief Minister M K Stalin requesting a government school in their village. Over 400 people signed the petition, alleging that the administration of the aided primary school was attempting to build a church on a government poromboke land.

“Opposing the construction, we held a road blockade in March and the police arrested us. Since then, we stopped sending our children to that particular school. We have also petitioned the district collector and other officials seeking steps to establish a government school in our village. Our children have to travel to a government school located six km away from our village for writing annual exams,” they said in their petition.

Tenkasi District Chief Education Officer Muthiah had committed to preparing and submitting a comprehensive report to the education department. He noted that while the government would ultimately decide on the school’s establishment, locals were advised to enroll their children in a school of their choice.

On 7 August 2023, the villagers organized a demonstration in Veerakeralampudur against the conversion attempts by the school.

Tenkasi Revenue Commissioner Lavanya refuted the conversion allegations, stating that the residents’ complaint was unfounded. She indicated that the residents’ demands had been forwarded to the government and urged parents not to keep their children away from school until the demands were considered. Lavanya also mentioned that notices had been sent to parents, warning of potential actions under the Right To Education Act if children were not sent to school. The district administration held discussions with Acchankuttam residents, advising them to transfer dropout students to other schools and providing necessary transport facilities.

In the meantime, the Tahsildar has lodged a complaint against individuals who played a prominent role in the peaceful protest aimed at obtaining Transfer Certificates for their children and accordingly a case was filed by the Surandai police against 12 people for stoking “communal tensions”.

They submitted bail applications to the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court asserting that they were not responsible for causing communal conflicts and alleged that the police had falsely implicated them based on a fabricated complaint from Revenue Department officials.

The bail petition came for hearing before Justice Ilangovan on 27 September 2023. The DMK government’s counsel argued that providing education to children up to the 5th grade is mandatory, and failing to send children to school constitutes a legal violation. He noted that the School Education Department had issued notices to the parents involved. Expressing concerns about potential disruptions to law and order stemming from the actions of the petitioners, he urged the court not to grant bail.

Following this Justice Ilangovan dismissed the anticipatory bail petitions.

(With inputs from Hindu Post, The New Indian Express, Daily Thanthi)

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Under Modernisation Through Indigenisation, Indian Army Wants 400 Howitzers From Indian Firms

By
The Commune
-

In a significant stride toward weapon system indigenization, the Indian Army has proposed the procurement of 400 howitzers from domestic manufacturers as part of the ‘Modernisation through Indigenisation’ initiative. The Army seeks 155mm/52 caliber Towed Gun Systems, designed and developed by Indian industry, which are lighter, versatile, and pivotal in potential conflicts.

According to ANI, a proposal to purchase 400 155mm 52 caliber towed gun systems (TGS) and associated towing vehicles from Indian firms, falling under the Buy Indian-IDDM category, has been submitted to the Defence Ministry. A decision on this proposal is expected to be made at a high-level government meeting soon.

The Army’s objective is to acquire lightweight artillery that can be transported by heavy-lift aircraft and helicopters for deployment in high-altitude regions, particularly along the borders with China and Pakistan. They are also exploring cutting-edge technologies such as loitering munitions, swarm drones, and tactical remotely piloted aerial systems.

The artillery systems under consideration include Dhanush, Sharang, Ultra Light Howitzer (ULH), and K-9 Vajra self-propelled guns. Dhanush guns represent an electronic upgrade of Bofors Guns, with a comprehensive technology transfer agreement in place. Meanwhile, Sharang Guns have been up-gunned from 130mm to 155mm caliber.

The Regiment of Artillery is adapting to future challenges through a transformation from manual to automatic, analog to digital, and conventional to smart technologies, enabling it to effectively address any contingencies and threats.

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Yet Another BJP TN Functionary Arrested Allegedly For Criticizing DMK-Congress, Cong MP Jothimani Claims It Was For “Obscene Video” Of RaGa and PriGa

By
The Commune
-

Pravin Raj, a Tamil Nadu BJP social media functionary has been arrested allegedly for posts targeting the DMK and the Congress.

According to a Dinamalar report, Pravin Raj was arrested by the Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime police in Rasipuram, Namakkal district.

In an X post, Pravin Raj (X handle name – Sanghi Prince) described how the Tamil Nadu police knocked on his doors on the wee hours of 1 October 2023 to take him into custody.

“Some people knocked on the door at 2 AM and then tried to break the door. They claimed to be from cyber crime when asked. When locals asked for their identity cards and took photos of it, they were threatened saying that it is a crime.“, he said in his tweet adding that the local police had not accompanied them as per protocol.

According to sources, Pravin Raj has been arrested for targeting the DMK and Congress over their inability to find a solution to the Cauvery water dispute that has surfaced again after 4-5 years.

However, Congress MP from Karur, Jothimani announced on social media that Pravin Raj was arrested for allegedly publishing an ‘obscene video of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi’, the video in question being an actual incident of Rahul Gandhi publicly kissing his sister Priyanka Gandhi in which the latter can be seen virtually at discomfort. According to the Congress MP, Pravin Raj was arrested based on a complaint given by Karur District Congress Committee.

Tamil Nadu BJP Industrial Cell Vice President Selva Kumar said that Pravin Raj was arrested for the video below.

Apparently Pravin Raj was already under the radar due to his vocal opposition of the DMK on social media, according to sources.

Many BJP supporters and cadres have lashed out at the MK Stalin government saying that it is going after people who criticize the DMK on social media amidst rising incidents of crime in the state.

 

Pravin Raj’s arrest comes just a day after Tamil Nadu police landed at the work place of Delhi-based journalist Abhijit Majumder for a piece that he wrote critical of Udhayanidhi Stalin over his “eradicate Sanatana Dharma” remarks.

In the early hours of 30 September 2023, Abhijit Majumder took to his social media handle, X, to share a troubling incident. He revealed, “Got a call from the media house I write and do TV for that 4 Tamil Nadu cops came looking for me for a piece I had written criticizing Udhayanidhi Stalin’s call to eradicate Sanatan Dharma. Apparently, an FIR has been filed. Then lawyers, cops. They say Modi is fascist.”

This is yet another incident that underscores concerns about the state of freedom of expression in Tamil Nadu under the DMK regime.

Ever since the DMK came to power, it has gone ruthlessly behind its critics filing cases and arresting them for social media posts and trolls.

Here are some other recent instances where the Tamil Nadu police have been actively pursuing individuals critical of the ruling DMK:

  • The Commune and its directors faced legal action for reporting on the confrontation between Podu Deekshitars of the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple and HR&CE officials.
  • Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary SG Suryah was taken into custody under non-bailable sections for his comments regarding Madurai CPI-M MP Su Venkatesan concerning a sanitation worker’s tragic death during drain cleaning in Pennadam town, Cuddalore district.
  • An AIADMK IT wing member was apprehended under non-bailable sections for sharing a video meme that humorously referenced MK Stalin’s video statement on Senthilbalaji’s arrest. The meme did not contain derogatory content.
  • A Pro-BJP Twitter Saravanaprasad Balasubramanian was arrested for sharing an old article and allegedly misattributing DMK to an illegal liquor-producing gang in Tiruppur, following the recent hooch tragedy in Marakkanam.
  • Vice President of Tamil Nadu BJP’s Industrial Cell, Selva Kumar, was arrested for criticizing DMK Minister Senthilbalaji.
  • The admin of Voice of Savukku Shankar X handle was arrested for a video meme targeting CM MK Stalin and DMK Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan regarding the “eligible household” clause in the monthly assistance scheme for women.
  • The DMK government traveled to Gujarat to arrest BJP cadre John Ravi, who had made satirical social media posts about CM MK Stalin and his late father, Karunanidhi.
  • A member of TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK was arrested for posting a meme mocking the Tamil Nadu sports ministry led by Udhayanidhi Stalin.
  • Political commentator Kishore K Swamy was detained for posts critical of MK Stalin related to monsoon preparations. Previously, he had been subjected to the Goondas Act for criticizing DMK leaders Karunandhi, Stalin, and Annadurai.
  • DMK critic YouTuber-turned-BJP cadre Karthik Gopinath was arrested for raising funds for temples in Siruvachur, Perambalur district, which had been vandalized by miscreants.
  • BJP supporter and political analyst Krishna Kumar Murugan was arrested in connection with alleged ‘defamatory’ posters caricaturing MK Stalin.
  • YouTuber Maridhas was taken into custody for a video discussing Tablighi Jamaat and a tweet related to the late Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat.
  • Naam Tamilar functionary Ganesh Kumar alias Nila Kannan was apprehended for posting an image of the late DMK leader Karunanidhi being served food by three different women.
  • Critic of the DMK, Badri Seshadri, was arrested for his comments in an interview on a YouTube channel regarding the Manipur issue, during which he made remarks about the Chief Justice of India.

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‘Lesson On Sanathana Dharma In Textbooks Will Be Revised Next Year’, Says Anbil Mahesh, TN Education Min

By
The Commune
-

The onslaught on Sanathana Dharma just seems to never end in Tamil Nadu, as the ruling party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has announced that the mention of Sanathana Dharma in school textbooks will be removed soon according to DMK education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi.

According to the DMK, the mention of Sanathana Dharma should be removed from textbooks as it is against “scientific temper” after many pointed out that the textbook says Sanathana Dharma and Hindu Dharma are one and the same following Udhayanidhi Stalin’s call to “eradicate Sanathana Dharma” comments. 

Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Chief Minster MK Stalin in one of his speeches had called for the “eradicating Sanathana” and since then any attempt even by his own party members to tone down his rhetoric has fallen on deaf ears. However, what stung the DMK was when BJP leader K Annamalai pointed out from his official X handle that, “The Class 12 textbook released by TN Govt says that Sanatana Dharma & Hinduism are the same. It also mentions that Sanatana Dharma is the Eternal Dharma. We advise PK Sekar Babu & Udhayanidhi Stalin to enrol in this class to get enlightened.” 

It all started when someone pointed out that the 12th standard textbook published by the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation mentions that “Sanathana Dharma and Hinduism are one and the same”. BJP TN President K Annamalai also shared it and questioned Udhayanidhi’s and HRCE Mminister Sekar Babu’s stance.

This revelation had put the Dravidianists on a spot, who had been fooling Tamils that Sanathana Dharma is a different religion and they were not attacking Hindu Dharma and Hindus by calling for the former’s eradication. Once this was pointed out Dravidianists on social media called on the DMK government to remove the specific content from the textbook.

Senior Dravidar Kazhagam leader K Veeramani made the same demand saying, “It was a result of an unclear thought process of the previous regime. Unnecessary things should be found based on rationality and removed. One of the basic duties of the Indian constitution is to spread the scientific temper. As this is an obstacle to spreading the scientific temper, it should be removed”.

 

It has been alleged that the sudden outbursts by the DMK scion are the result of leaders like K Veeramani and Suba Veerapandian who seem to have more access to CM Stalin’s son’s thought process and the things Udhayanidhi Stalin has said recently.

As per the growing discourse within the DMK, the School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh has assured that content that says Sanathana Dharma and Hindu Dharma is the same and will be removed from textbooks in the next academic year. Also, any mention of  “Sanathana is a Dharma and there is no discrimination in Varnashrama,” which is the exact opposite of what Udhayanidhi had said will be changed.

As per a Hindu Tamil report, so-called ‘social activists’ have taken exception and sought the removal of this content and blamed the AIADMK for bringing such changes to the curriculum in 2018. The education minister said, “The part about Sanathana is found in the textbook printed in 2018. As the syllabus is changed every five years, textbooks will be altered next year. We have appointed a committee to look into the issue.”

In Tamil Nadu, the DMK has always used education as a platform to further its ideology and indoctrinate people. Dravidian outfits often distribute anti-Hindu and pro-Periyarist materials in schools and colleges to influence young minds and at the same time give a lot of support to Christian educational institutions.

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TN Police Land Up At Journalist Abhijit Majumder’s Workplace For Criticising Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Comments On Sanathana Dharma

By
The Commune
-

In a shocking turn of events, journalist Abhijit Majumder, has found himself in the Tamil Nadu Police’s crosshairs. The police went all the way to Noida-based media house looking for Abhijit without issuing any summons. 

In the early hours of 30 September 2023, Abhijit Majumder took to his social media handle, X, to share a troubling incident. He revealed, “Got a call from the media house I write and do TV for that 4 Tamil Nadu cops came looking for me for a piece I had written criticizing Udhayanidhi Stalin’s call to eradicate Sanatan Dharma. Apparently, an FIR has been filed. Then lawyers, cops. They say Modi is fascist.”

This incident stems from a piece Abhijit had written earlier in September 2023 for FirstPost, where he analysed the political ramifications of a controversial speech delivered by Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.

What Did Udhayanidhi Stalin Say?

To provide context, in September 2023, Udhayanidhi Stalin addressed the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists’ Association’s conference titled “Eradicate Sanathana Dharma Conference.” During his speech, he made incendiary remarks, stating, “The title of this conference has been excellently coined. You’ve named it ‘Abolish Sanatanam Conference’ and not ‘Oppose Sanatanam Conference’, so my best wishes to that.” He compared Hinduism to mosquitoes and diseases like dengue, flu, malaria, and coronavirus, asserting that these aspects should not be opposed but entirely eradicated. Udhayanidhi Stalin further criticised the concept of Sanatan Dharma, describing it as being opposed to equality and social justice. He questioned the meaning of “Sanatanam” and labelled it as something that cannot be changed or questioned. 

He said, “Mosquitoes, dengue, flu, malaria, corona – we should not oppose these things. They’ve to be eradicated completely. The same is the case with Santanam (Hinduism). Our first work should be to abolish/eradicate Sanatanam instead of opposing it. So, my appreciation to you all for giving an apt title to the meeting“. DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said.

He also further went on to say, “What is Sanathanam? The name Sanatanam itself comes from Sanskrit. Sanathanam is opposed to equality and social justice. What is the meaning of Sanatanam? Eternal or something that can’t be changed. Something that can’t be questioned. That is the meaning of Sanatanam.”

Abhijit’s Article

In his article for FirstPost, Abhijit Majumder discussed how Udhayanidhi Stalin’s controversial speech may have inadvertently benefitted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu. This critical analysis appears to have drawn the ire of the Tamil Nadu government. The article was titled, “Udhayanidhi Stalin’s call for Hindu genocide does BJP a big favour in Tamil Nadu” and it appears that the word “genocide” is the problem here. 

This incident underscores concerns about the state of freedom of expression in Tamil Nadu under the DMK regime. While freedom of speech is a fundamental right in the country, incidents like these raise questions about its practical application, particularly when critical viewpoints are targeted. In fact, there have been a spate of arrests in the last few weeks. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya was booked in a similar case for his tweet in which he had accused the DMK Minister of calling for genocide. 

Here are some other recent instances where the Tamil Nadu police have been actively pursuing individuals critical of the ruling DMK:

  • The Commune and its directors faced legal action for reporting on the confrontation between Podu Deekshitars of the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple and HR&CE officials.
  • Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary SG Suryah was taken into custody under non-bailable sections for his comments regarding Madurai CPI-M MP Su Venkatesan concerning a sanitation worker’s tragic death during drain cleaning in Pennadam town, Cuddalore district.
  • An AIADMK IT wing member was apprehended under non-bailable sections for sharing a video meme that humorously referenced MK Stalin’s video statement on Senthilbalaji’s arrest. The meme did not contain derogatory content.
  • A Pro-BJP Twitter user was arrested for sharing an old article and allegedly misattributing DMK to an illegal liquor-producing gang in Tiruppur, following the recent hooch tragedy in Marakkanam.
  • Vice President of Tamil Nadu BJP’s Industrial Cell, Selva Kumar, was arrested for criticizing DMK Minister Senthilbalaji.
  • The admin of Voice of Savukku Shankar X handle was arrested for a video meme targeting CM MK Stalin and DMK Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan regarding the “eligible household” clause in the monthly assistance scheme for women.
  • The DMK government traveled to Gujarat to arrest BJP cadre John Ravi, who had made satirical social media posts about CM MK Stalin and his late father, Karunanidhi.
  • A member of TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK was arrested for posting a meme mocking the Tamil Nadu sports ministry led by Udhayanidhi Stalin.
  • Political commentator Kishore K Swamy was detained for posts critical of MK Stalin related to monsoon preparations. Previously, he had been subjected to the Goondas Act for criticizing DMK leaders Karunandhi, Stalin, and Annadurai.
  • DMK critic YouTuber-turned-BJP cadre Karthik Gopinath was arrested for raising funds for temples in Siruvachur, Perambalur district, which had been vandalized by miscreants.
  • BJP supporter and political analyst Krishna Kumar Murugan was arrested in connection with alleged ‘defamatory’ posters caricaturing MK Stalin.
  • YouTuber Maridhas was taken into custody for a video discussing Tablighi Jamaat and a tweet related to the late Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat.
  • Naam Tamilar functionary Ganesh Kumar alias Nila Kannan was apprehended for posting an image of the late DMK leader Karunanidhi being served food by three different women.
  • Critic of the DMK, Badri Seshadri, was arrested for his comments in an interview on a YouTube channel regarding the Manipur issue, during which he made remarks about the Chief Justice of India.

This is a developing story, and further details are awaited in the coming days. 

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The Commune is a news and views portal focusing on social and political issues of the southern part of India with a focus on Tamil Nadu.
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