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“Ondre Kulam, Oruvanalla Devan, This Is Annamalaiyar’s Soil”: Mohan G Roars With Historical ‘Draupathi 2’ Based On Veera Vallala III And Sultanate Invasion Of Tamil Land

By
The Commune
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The trailer of ‘Draupathi 2’, directed by Mohan G and starring Richard Rishi in the lead role, has generated significant attention following its release, with the film now set to arrive in theatres on 15 January 2026, ahead of the Pongal festival. The film was earlier scheduled for a 23 January 2026 release, but the makers advanced the date to capitalise on the festive holiday period.

Since its release on 10 January 2026, the trailer has already crossed over 3 million views online, reflecting strong audience interest and social media traction.

Along with Richard Rishi, the film also features Rakhshana Indhusudhan, Natty Nataraaj, and Vela Ramamoorthy in key roles. The project is presented as being inspired by lesser-known historical accounts and is based on the book ‘Thiruvannamalaiyai Aanda Vallala Maharaja Varalaru’ written by Aaru Annal Kandar, which the makers say provides the documentary basis for the narrative.

The trailer opens with a title card stating that the story draws from historical records. It then introduces Rakhshana Indhusudhan’s character, who addresses a gathering and says, “She was born of fire, that ‘Draupathi’. Today I know why I was named after that flame.” The line sets the tone for a narrative driven by emotional intensity and conflict.

The protagonist, Veera Simha Kadavarayan, played by Richard Rishi, is then introduced, accompanied by a visual caption that reads, “An unending tremor caused by the Sultanates across the cultural landscape of Hindustan.” The trailer depicts a period marked by clashes between rival kings, with scenes suggesting the imposition of religious ideology by Sultanate rulers and resistance from Hindu communities. The evolving confrontation between the two sides forms the central conflict of the story.

Beyond the themes of war and political struggle, the trailer also places strong emphasis on the role and sacrifices of women during times of upheaval. One of the key lines in the trailer states, “It is not valour alone that deserves praise… the sacrifice of women does too,” underscoring what the film presents as a parallel narrative of resilience and sacrifice alongside battlefield heroism.

In one of the scenes, the protagonist says “Idhu Annamalaiayar Mann” (This is Annamalaiyar’s soil), bound to get thunderous claps given the modern day Tamil Nadu political context.

The trailer ends with a dialogue that says “Ondre Kulam Oruvanalla Devan” (One Clan, But Not Just One God), a direct challenge to the Dravidianist concept of religion and also Abrahamic faiths.

With its mix of historical references, political conflict, and emotional storytelling, Draupathi 2 has positioned itself as a major Pongal release, with the trailer’s early performance further intensifying anticipation ahead of its theatrical debut.

Source: Times of India

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‘Completely Removed From Reality’: Supreme Court Slams Sharmila Tagore Over Stray Dogs In Hospitals

By
The Commune
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‘Completely Removed From Reality’: Supreme Court Slams Sharmila Tagore Over Stray Dogs In Hospitals

On 9 January 2026, the Supreme Court of India came down sharply on veteran actor Sharmila Tagore during a hearing on the stray dog menace, rejecting arguments opposing a uniform approach to managing the issue and warning against what it described as an attempt to normalise and even glorify the presence of stray dogs in sensitive public spaces such as hospitals.

During the hearing, counsel appearing for Tagore cited the example of a reportedly friendly stray dog named “Goldie”, which was said to have lived on the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) campus for several years, to argue that not all stray dogs pose a threat.

The bench, however, strongly objected to this line of reasoning. Questioning the logic of the submission, the court asked whether the dog was also allowed inside operation theatres and highlighted the serious health risks involved. The bench observed, “Any dog that’s on the streets is bound to have ticks. And a dog with ticks in a hospital will have disastrous consequences. Do you understand?”

The judges also rejected what they described as an emotional framing of the issue. The bench, comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice N V Anjaria, told counsel, “We’ll let you know the reality of what is being argued. You are completely removed from reality. Don’t try to glorify these dogs in the hospitals.”

Tagore’s counsel had also argued that stray dogs should not be removed or euthanised unless they were first declared “aggressive” by expert committees through behaviour-based assessments. The court dismissed this contention as impractical, reiterating its concerns about patient safety, hygiene and public health.

The bench further rejected a proposal to introduce colour-coded collars for dogs that had bitten people, a practice reportedly followed in countries such as Georgia and Armenia. Questioning its feasibility in India, the court remarked, “What is the population of those countries? Please be realistic.”

While criticising the submissions made on behalf of Tagore, the Supreme Court clarified that it had not ordered the blanket removal of all stray dogs from public spaces. It said its directions were limited to the implementation of the existing Animal Birth Control rules.

The matter is scheduled to be heard next on 13 January 2026.

Source: OpIndia

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Kerala: RTI Reveals Judges Favoured Teams To The Top At Kalolsavam, High Court Steps In

By
The Commune
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Kerala: RTI Bombshell - Judges Pushed Favoured Teams To The Top At Kalolsavam, High Court Steps In

A series of alleged irregularities in judging at Kerala’s district-level School Kalolsavam competitions has come under judicial scrutiny after students from Kasaragod and Malappuram challenged the outcomes, citing conflicts of interest and manipulated score sheets.

In Kasaragod district, Class XI student Preethika Balakrishnan of BAR Higher Secondary School, Bovikkanam, had written to the Deputy Director of Education (DDE) in mid-December objecting to the appointment of Sasi Pattannur as a judge for the mono act and drama competitions. In her complaint, she stated that Pattannur’s name had been circulated in WhatsApp groups weeks in advance and that he was a close associate of P Sasi Kumar of Nileshwar, a theatre trainer whose students regularly dominated mono-act contests. She also submitted photographs showing the two together to support her claim of a conflict of interest.

Despite the complaint, Pattannur was appointed as judge, and students trained by Sasi Kumar won both the boys’ and girls’ mono-act titles in the higher secondary category. Preethika later said she was placed last among eight participants. She explained that she did not pursue an appeal because her family could not afford the ₹5,000 appeal fee and the additional ₹10,000 deposit required if an appeal is upheld and the student advances to the state level.

In Malappuram district, Ahammed Shibiyaan KP, a Class 10 student of CHM High School, Pookolathur, pursued a similar grievance in the Arabanamuttu group dance competition. After his team was placed fourth at the Malappuram Revenue District School Kalolsavam held from 18-22 November 2025, Shibiyaan’s family paid the appeal fee and sought a review of the results.

When the district-level appeal was rejected on 6 December 2025 by the Higher Appeal Committee headed by DDE Ramlath K K, Shibiyaan used the Right to Information Act to obtain the individual score sheets of the three judges, Muhammed Kasi, Kunhimoidu, and Basheer Pantheerpadam, along with the consolidated mark list. The documents showed discrepancies between the category scores and the totals written on the sheets.

According to the RTI documents, Basheer Pantheerpadam’s sheets contained no corrections, but the other two judges had altered figures. Muhammed Kasi had raised the total of PPM Higher Secondary School, Kottukara, from 83 to 90 by revising all five category scores upward. Kunhimoidu’s sheets showed even larger discrepancies: the total for PPM HSS, Kottukara was written as 93 even though the category scores added up to 82, and PKM HSS, Edarikkode was given 93.5 instead of the actual 83.5. An additional one-point inflation was also recorded for HMY HSS, Manjeri.

When the figures were recalculated correctly, HMY HSS, Manjeri, would have been the winner with 269 out of 300, followed by CHM HS, Pookolathur, with 267. PKM HSS, Edarikkode, would have had 264.5, and PPM HSS, Kottukara, 263. However, because Manjeri did not appeal, and Kottukara’s appeal was accepted on the basis of being within two points of the declared winner, Shibiyaan’s team was initially excluded from the state-level competition.

Shibiyaan then moved the Kerala High Court. On 6 January 2026, Justice VG Arun observed that the manner in which the marks had been calculated and corrected prima facie indicated an attempt at manipulation and directed the State to explain the discrepancies. On 9 January 2026, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas allowed Shibiyaan’s team to participate in the State School Kalolsavam in Thrissur from 14-18 January 2026, based on an interim order.

Advocate Ameen Hassan K, who represented Shibiyaan pro bono, said the legal battle was continuing. He stated that under festival rules, teams that qualify through appeals or court orders are entitled to grace marks only if they secure an A grade and outperform the team originally selected from their district. He argued that since Shibiyaan’s team was effectively the district’s top performer after the corrected calculations, the grace-mark restriction should not apply to them, and he said the court had been asked to address this in the final judgment.

Source: OnManorama

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DMK Health Minister Ma Subramanian, Who Denied Drug Menace In TN, Seen With Serial Ganja Peddler Arrested For 18th Time

By
The Commune
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DMK Health Minister Ma Subramanian, Who Denied Drug Menace In TN, Seen With Serial Ganja Peddler Arrested For 18th Time

A woman drug dealer was reportedly arrested in Chennai’s Kannagi Nagar–Okkiyam Thuraipakkam area after police seized 1.5 kg of cannabis from her following a tip-off, officials said.

The accused, identified as Saranya (30), was taken into custody after police received information that ganja was being sold in the Kannagi Nagar locality. Acting on the tip-off, officers conducted a search and found Saranya in possession of the contraband. The drugs were seized and she was booked under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Police said Saranya has been involved in drug peddling since 2016 and that this is her 18th case related to cannabis sales. Records show that she has previously faced 17 similar cases and has repeatedly returned to the illegal trade despite earlier arrests.

The case has drawn additional attention after photographs of Saranya with Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian began circulating on social media. The development has raised political questions, particularly as the Health Minister had earlier stated that there was “no drug trafficking” in Tamil Nadu. The same minister had also recently faced scrutiny over a photograph with Gnanashekaran, who is accused in a sexual assault case involving an Anna University student.

Taking to his X handle, BJP leader Annamalai wrote, “A woman drug dealer involved in selling marijuana in the Okkiyam Thuraipakkam area of ​​Chennai was arrested the day before yesterday for the 18th time. The height of irony is that this woman drug dealer has also taken a photograph with Health Minister Mr. Ma. Subramanian, who had claimed that there was “no drug trafficking” in Tamil Nadu. Minister Mr. Ma. Subramanian, who had already offered several excuses to downplay his photograph with Gnanashekaran, a sexual offender involved in a sexual assault on an Anna University student, what explanation will he offer for this photograph with a drug dealer who has been arrested multiple times? Adding to this absurdity, the woman drug dealer is reportedly the Deputy Secretary of the 196th ‘A’ ward Kannagi Nagar unit of the DMK. It is no surprise that drug traffickers and sexual offenders, who have close ties to ministers, are using the DMK as their haven.”

He also alleged that Saranya reportedly held the position of Deputy Secretary of the DMK’s 196th ‘A’ ward Kannagi Nagar unit.

Ma Su Connection With Rapist Gnanasekharan

Gnanasekaran, a 37-year-old alleged DMK functionary from the Kotturpuram area in Chennai, attacked a girl victim and her boyfriend at a secluded spot on the campus. He filmed the assault victim without consent and threatened to release the footage unless the victim complied with his demands. The perpetrator forced the victim to strip, harassed her, and then sexually assaulted her. Gnanasekaran had been in contact with influential DMK men, senior police officials, and even the DMK Health Minister Ma Subramanian according to report.

He has been photographed with senior DMK leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Minister Ma. Subramanian, showing his strong political connections.

Source: NewsIt

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DMK Functionary Quits Party Citing Inaction On Illegal Mineral Smuggling

By
The Commune
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DMK Functionary Quits Party Citing Inaction On Illegal Mineral Smuggling

A senior functionary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) from Tirunelveli district has resigned from both his party post and primary membership, alleging that the ruling party has failed to act against large-scale illegal mineral smuggling from southern Tamil Nadu to Kerala, triggering sharp political reactions from opposition parties.

According to a news clipping from The Indian Express, the article states that Chandrasekar, a DMK office-bearer, resigned after repeated representations on mineral smuggling in the Western Ghats went unaddressed and that he stepped down despite holding an organisational position, citing environmental damage and hardship to residents. The report also notes that DMK district secretary R Avudaiyappan later claimed Chandrasekar had written the resignation letter as he wanted to join another party.

The DMK functionary, identified as Kadayam Chandrasekar, served as the Deputy Organiser of the DMK’s Tirunelveli West District Environment Wing. His resignation letter, addressed to DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin, has since become public and has intensified the political controversy.

In his letter, as reported in OneIndia Tamil, Chandrasekar wrote, “I served the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam as the Tirunelveli West District Environment Deputy Organiser. In Kadayam Union, which comes under the Alangulam Assembly constituency of Tenkasi district, a large quantity of minerals is being transported to Kerala. Heavy vehicles are causing severe hardship to the public. I have repeatedly informed you about the long-term environmental consequences, but nothing has come of it. As the District Environment Deputy Organiser, I am unable to protect and preserve the environment of our area. Therefore, I am resigning from my post. I am a student of Thanthai Periyar, Arignar Anna, and Dr Kalaignar, who taught me self-respect. In order to protect my self-respect, I am also resigning from my primary membership.”

Chandrasekar’s resignation has provided ammunition to opposition parties, which have accused the DMK government of deliberately turning a blind eye to illegal mining and mineral transportation.

Reacting to the development, Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai posted on X: “A DMK functionary has resigned from his party post and primary membership in protest against the DMK Govt’s wilful inaction in curbing rampant illegal mineral smuggling from Tenkasi district in TN to Kerala. Despite his repeated flagging of this grave issue to TN CM Thiru @mkstalin, no corrective steps have been taken. Illegal mining has become a deep-rooted menace in Tamil Nadu. Yet, it does not even feature at the bottom of the priority list of this corrupt DMK regime, one where both former and serving Ministers have been principal enablers of these unlawful practices. Every single day, thousands of lorries illegally ferry minerals across state borders, inflicting untold hardship on residents and accelerating the irreversible destruction of the region’s natural resources. DMK would now spend all its resources discrediting the person who raised the issue rather than addressing the actual problem.”

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No Stalin And Karunanidhi, No Warranty: ELCOT’s Warns As Students Who Received Free Laptops Remove DMK Leaders Pics

By
The Commune
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No Stalin, No Karunanidhi, No Warranty: ELCOT’s Warning Over Free Laptops

The Tamil Nadu government’s free laptop distribution scheme has triggered controversy after students began removing or covering the printed images of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi from the devices supplied under the programme.

The laptop distribution event was held on 5 January 2026 at the Chennai Trade Centre in Nandambakkam, where Chief Minister Stalin formally launched the scheme and handed over laptops to students. The devices carry printed political branding on both the exterior and interior surfaces. On the upper surface, the laptops display Karunanidhi’s portrait and his signature along with the slogan “Tamil Will Win”, while Stalin’s photograph, signature, and the words “Tamil Nadu Will Win”, along with the Tamil Nadu state emblem also printed. Stalin’s portrait has additionally been placed near the mouse area on the device.

The use of political leaders’ images on government-funded welfare scheme products has become a major subject of public debate. During the earlier AIADMK regime, laptops distributed to students had carried Jayalalithaa’s image in the form of a sticker, which many students chose to remove. In the current scheme, instead of removable stickers, the DMK government has supplied laptops with directly printed images, making removal difficult. Students are now pasting stickers over the images to conceal them, and videos of this process are being widely shared on social media.

The laptops are being distributed under the Tamil Nadu government’s “Ulagam Ungal Kaiyil” (The World in Your Hands) scheme, which aims to improve students’ technological knowledge and digital skills. Under the first phase of the scheme, 10 lakh students are being provided free laptops at a cost of approximately ₹2,000 crore. The laptops have been procured through the state-run ELCOT (Tamil Nadu Electronics Corporation) from international brands including Acer, Dell, and HP.

However, the political branding on the devices has led to visible resistance from some students. Several students have been pouring thinner and other liquids to erase the images of Stalin and Karunanidhi. Others are scraping off the portraits using blades and sharp tools. Some students are covering the images with stickers of film actors (Vijay), actresses, Spider-Man, Avatar movie scenes, and other popular visuals. Many of these acts are being recorded on video and circulated widely on social media platforms.

Following the spread of these videos, ELCOT issued a formal advisory to students and educational institutions. The corporation stated that all government-issued laptops come with a one-year comprehensive warranty, under which students are eligible for free repairs at designated service centres if any malfunction occurs.

However, ELCOT made it clear that to be eligible for warranty coverage, the Tamil Nadu government emblem and the photographs of the Chief Minister and former Chief Minister printed on the laptop must remain intact. If these images or symbols are erased, scratched out, or covered, the warranty will become invalid. The corporation also warned that all serial numbers on the laptops must remain visible and undamaged, or else warranty service will not be provided.

Source: KalkiOnline

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DMK Reportedly Bullies Congress Student Leader Into Deleting Post Mocking Karunanidhi Look-Alike In Parasakthi Film

By
The Commune
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DMK Reportedly Bullies Congress Student Leader Into Deleting Post Over Karunanidhi Mockery In Parasakthi Film

With the release of the pro-DMK propaganda film Parasakthi, several clippings of the film from the audience in theatres started circulating on social media.

The film has drawn attention for scenes depicting alleged excesses under the Congress government, which has in turn led to an escalating online clash between supporters of the Congress and the DMK.

Many ridiculed the appearance of a few characters and questioned why they had been made so. For instance, former PM Indira Gandhi was looking ghastly in her appearance in the film.

Not taking this lightly, Congress members and supporters of the party started mocking the former CM Karunanidhi portrayed in the film.

One such case was when the All India Congress Student Union executive named “Salam Mass” reacted to online content about the film by posting, “Who is this clown, someone tell me?” The remark was widely circulated on social media and drew sharp reactions across the spectrum.

Following this, several DMK members and supporters of the party lashed out at the handle for the remarks.

Subsequently, the post was deleted.

According to the Congress student leader, sustained pressure from DMK members and pro-DMK Dravidianist accounts led to the post being taken down. In a subsequent message on his X handle, he explained the deletion, writing: “The post I made this morning was a response to the continuous false accusations that online DMK members are making against the great leader Kamaraj, Indira Gandhi, and many others. Shortly after I posted it, due to the continuous pressure exerted by some key DMK functionaries from their office on our party’s office bearers to remove my post, I have deleted it to avoid causing any embarrassment to the party leadership. Otherwise, there is nothing for the online DMK members to crow about here. I am a proud Tamilian who walks hand-in-hand with leader Rahul Gandhi. No matter how much mud you throw at me, calling me a ‘Sanghi’, it will not stick to me.”

The episode has added to the growing political tension between the Congress and its DMK ally in Tamil Nadu, particularly as debates over historical narratives and cinematic portrayals spill over into social media and party politics.

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‘When 13 States Accept It, How Can You Alone Oppose?’ – Historical Sources Reveal EVR’s Stance Against 1965 Anti-Hindi Agitation In TN

By
The Commune
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‘When 13 States Accept It, How Can You Alone Oppose?’ - What EV Ramasamy Reportedly Said About Anti-Hindi Agitation In TN EVR

A renewed political debate has emerged over the role of EV Ramasamy (hailed as Periyar by his followers) during the 1965 anti-Hindi agitation, with historical writings and magazine records being cited to challenge the dominant narrative associated with the Dravidian movement.

Writings from the period indicate that EVR, despite being projected in later years as the father of the anti-Hindi movement, had in fact taken positions that sharply diverged from the student-led agitation of 1965. According to material published at the time in the magazine Thenmozhi, EVR had asked, “What will be spoiled if Hindi comes? When 13 states accept it, how can you alone oppose it?”

These views were strongly opposed by Tamil scholars and activists. Poet and scholar Pulavar VP Palanivelan wrote in response that “those who call Periyar the leader of the Tamil race are fools.”

 

Thenmozhi, edited under the leadership of Devaneya Pavanar and Perunchithiranar, published sustained rebuttals to Periyar’s statements during the agitation.

In Nedumaran’s Kurinji Pongal Special Issue (1965), Periyar was asked about the growing student protests. He replied, “The weakness and leniency of the government are the reasons for the increase of indiscipline and hooliganism among our students.”

While former Chief Minister K Kamaraj had reportedly suggested that the agitation was seen in the North as an attempt to weaken the Congress, Periyar went further, describing it as “a hooligans’ agitation” and saying the Congress government had failed by not suppressing it.

At the same time, C Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) wrote that “English alone is the path to unity” and warned that opposing Hindi would create divisive feelings. EVR, writing in Viduthalai, responded by sharply criticising the DMK, stating, “Because a crowd has got ready to fall at the feet of Brahmins for the sake of positions, such anti-Hindi activities are growing.”

Thenmozhi countered this by writing, “The Tamil Brahmin is far superior to the Hindi Brahmin,” a remark widely interpreted as accusing Periyar of aligning himself with North Indian elites rather than Tamil interests.

This exchange reportedly led to heightened tensions, after which Periyar proposed drastic measures, declaring, “Do not worry about elections. Declare both the Swatantra Party and the ‘teardrop’ (DMK) illegal and ban them. Ban all newspapers. Impose a gag law so that no one can speak about the anti-Hindi issue.”

As protests intensified and turned violent, marked by police firing, student deaths, and suicides, CN Annadurai called on students to step back, stating that the agitation should be left to elders and that student violence had no connection with his party.

EVR, however, later wrote in Viduthalai (1965), “Only after I ordered Kazhagam cadres to take burning ghee, matchboxes and knives to suppress the Hindi agitators did the agitation fearfully come to an end.”

In later years, Periyar also criticised Tamil nationalist rhetoric itself. In a 1967 article in Viduthalai, he wrote, “Those who cannot make a living in any other way in our country try to survive in the name of Tamil. Their desperation is what appears as cries like ‘Tamil must be protected’, ‘I will work for Tamil’, ‘I will die for Tamil’. Other people should not get trapped and deceived by this.”

Large sections of Dravidian politics have sought to downplay or erase these aspects of EVR’s record. These writings raise questions about how the history of the anti-Hindi movement has been presented, and whether there is room today for an open and structured debate on EVR’s role during one of the most turbulent chapters in Tamil Nadu’s political history.

(This article is based on a Facebook Post By Sundararaja Cholan)

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“What Would Have Happened If CM Visited Vengaivayal?” A Raja Defends Stalin’s Absence After Faeces In Water Tank Incident

By
The Commune
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"What Would Have Happened If CM Visited Vengaivayal?" A Raja Defends Stalin’s Absence After Faeces In Water Tank Incident

At a public interaction, DMK Member of Parliament A Raja faced pointed questions from the audience over Chief Minister MK Stalin’s failure to visit Vengaivayal, the Tamil Nadu village where a Dalit settlement’s drinking water tank was contaminated with human waste.

A member of the audience asked Raja, “We ask the social justice question of why PM Modi did not visit Manipur. But our CM Stalin did not visit Vengaivayal, this is social injustice.”

Raja responded by questioning the comparison, asking, “Do you think the severity of Vengaivayal and Manipur issues are same?”

The audience member replied, “Everything is injustice.” When people began clapping in support of this remark, Raja interrupted, saying, “Wait, wait.”

Raja then elaborated on his position, saying, “Do we take the same tablet for blood cancer and headache? This is a good question. We exhausted all things scientifically. Two theories are there – whether they are same caste or different castes. We do not disagree that it was wrong. But do you know what happened in Manipur? In Manipur, they paraded a woman naked with military in broad daylight and gangraped by 15 people and you are justifying it in Parliament. Governor did not come out, you think all this was happening ordinarily. Sir don’t compare.”

Despite repeated questions on why the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had not visited Vengaivayal, Raja defended the government’s handling of the case, saying, “What would have happened if he went? We are investigating under CBI, forensic, everything. That is a lone wolf attack. It was a human right violation by putting faeces in a tank.”

It is noteworthy that A Raja belongs to the Dalit community himself and fights the Parliamentary elections from Nilgiris, a reserved constituency.

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No Brahmin, No Politics: The Hollow Core Of Dravidianism

By
Hydra
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A few days ago, we saw the IIT Madras head, Prof Kamakoti Veezhinathan, praising the Stalin government for the quality of laptops they had given the students of the state.

One would wonder how a Dravidianist party that denounced Brahmins, whose ideologue called for the genocide of Brahmins, can share a stage with one? That too with Prof Kamakoti, whose IIT is giving sleepless nights to the Dravidianists – haven’t you heard the man who vulgarized Lord Nataraja claim SC students are unaliving themselves at IIT more in number than Brahmin kids?

Why did they have to bring Dr Kamakoti on stage and have him praise the government? The answer lies in the fact that they crave Brahmin validation just as much as they crave the white man’s validation.  Dravidianists entire existence will become zilch, worthless if you remove Brahmin from the equation. Some days ago, a Prof Jayaraman spoke about an arithmetic formula where he said Tamil – Parpaan (Brahmin) = Dravidian.

Let us change this a bit; Dravidianism – Brahmin = 0.

For all the talk about 100 years of social justice and taking pride in driving out Brahmins from Tamil Nadu, the Dravidianists still keep talking about the minuscule percentage that continues to live in the state. Remove Brahmins from the discourse, and the Dravidianist ecosystem will collapse.

Their so-called enemy’s existence is what keeps them alive. Dare them to speak about the other castes in the state, they won’t. Truth be told, the Justice Party came to existence because of a few disgruntled landed dominante caste members upset with the upward economic mobility of Brahmins. On the other hand, the Dravidianist DMK had to take the help of Rajaji, a Brahmin, to come to power. 

For a movement that keeps claiming it has “annihilated Brahminism,” it simply cannot stop talking about Brahmins. Everything, right from when they wake up, take a dump, till they go to bed, everything still revolves around them. Their speeches, textbooks, pop culture, and conferences – all have the same common feature – bash the Brahmin. 

And now even government events have to feature a Brahmin to have legitimacy. Just remove that Brahmin from the equation, as Prof Jayaraman did, and the whole thing has nothing to lean against; it just collapses. No enemy. No villain. No one to blame.

That’s why a Brahmin on stage matters so much. Not because of his expertise. Not because of governance. Because optics. “Look, even a Brahmin is praising us. Even they approve.”, that is the validation they want, badly. Ideology goes straight into the dustbin when insecurity rises.

This is also why caste is used so selectively. Brahmins are easy targets – politically and numerically insignificant. The safest punching bags. You can abuse them freely. Call them anything. Attribute anything to them. Ancient history, even when humans didn’t exist, modern problems, suicides, failures – stretch it back to even a zillion years – the blame is always on the paarpaan, the Brahmin. Who cares about evidence as long as the one who is blamed is the Brahmin?

There is no such sustained attack on dominant non-Brahmin castes. No serious questioning of who actually holds power today. No real discussion of internal hierarchies within the Dravidian ecosystem. No account of how the Scheduled Castes have lived under governments that endlessly boast about establishing “social justice.” That conversation never happens and will never happen. Because that mirror is dangerous – it is looking at them.

So the Brahmin is kept alive in the story, mocked when convenient, abused when useful, summoned when legitimacy is required, dismissed, and then quietly brought back on stage when a photo-op is needed – rinse and repeat.

Remove the Brahmin from the narrative, and what remains isn’t social justice. It’s a power structure that doesn’t want to reflect upon itself. That is why the obsession doesn’t end.  And that is why, after a hundred years of claiming victory, the supposedly defeated enemy still sits right at the Centre of their politics.

Hydra is a political writer.

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