The internet was in uproar when senior advocate J Sai Deepak answered a netizen’s post which questioned whether Brahmins in Tamil Nadu were ever attacked for their caste and that they were reasonably safe in the state. Refuting the post, Deepak wrote, “Wrong. They were. Objectification was normalized, entire agraharams were depopulated of Brahmins. And pop culture was used to scale up this filthy mindset. Dravidianism needs to be eliminated because it provides a replicable model to other like-minded cohorts. Black meets Blue.”
In response, several videos and posts were revealed that proved that there were calls for genocide against Brahmins in Tamil Nadu, especially by the Dravidianists.
In this article, we compile one such thread of videos containing statements of various DMK leaders and their alliance members in TN who have promoted hate against the community and also called for violence.
EV Ramasamy Naicker – The Fountainhead Of Hate
It is a known fact that the Dravidianist ideologue EV Ramasamy (Periyar) was among the earliest to call for genocide.
In a speech made in Karaikudi in 1973, EVR says, “They are celebrating festivals, it seems. He is celebrating soorasamharam, what is it? He (Soorapadman, the demon) was someone who said there is no God. They killed him. So we can kill those buggers, that won’t be wrong. Maybe it is wrong legally, that legal offence is bullshit, but we can’t be bothered that it is legally wrong to kill. We have to come to this conclusion that wherever we see a temple, we must go inside and break all the idols there. Wherever we find a pappaan (Tamil Brahmin), we must kill and destroy him. He (Tamil Brahmin) has done like this to us, after the Tamil Brahmin has done these kinds of things only, he has come to this good position. We must also do to the Tamil Brahmin, whatever he has done. A few of us have to die. If one Tamilian dies for one Tamil Brahmin, only 3 of us will die for every 100. Balance 84%. Wait.. 100-3 = 97. 97-3 = 94% of us will still remain but he will be completely eliminated. We will definitely go to this level, we can only go step by step. If he corrects himself, let him correct himself. Otherwise, should we (Dravidian non-Brahmins) keep listening or should we keep experiencing? Or should we remain permanent fools.”
Here’s the clarion call from your ideological figure-head, a Genocidal maniac and a Lunatic(Nehru’s own words). pic.twitter.com/uEfJpTJ9oh
DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran
DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, whose mother is a Tamil Brahmin and whose wife is also a Tamil Brahmin, at a public meeting mocks Brahmins saying, “Citizenship Amendment Act is just a campaign they’re running unnecessarily. It doesn’t harm anyone; they’re just yelling “hoyya moyya” (nonsense). Can you tell if any Muslim will be harmed? The Chief Minister is asking, the press is asking. Additionally, not the ones who are associated with us, but ‘avaa’ (derogatory reference to Tamil Brahmins) those people ask ‘why are you overdoing it, why do you only support the Muslims? (Maran speaks mockingly in a Tambram accent). Then, to get votes from us you come – when have you voted for us that you’re going to vote newly. They say, if you do this, all Hindus will turn against you, watch.’ This law is not against Muslims only; it’s against everyone in India, that’s why we’re opposing it. What did the Modi government do today? Just like they announced overnight that 500-and-1000-rupee notes are invalid, similarly, they’ll say everyone, us, you, don’t have Indian citizenship. You’ll have to go prove your citizenship with your Aadhaar. Okay, now I ask: I know my father, but I don’t know my grandfather’s birthdate or which village he was born in. Half the people, fathers won’t be alive when you go there; you won’t know where he was born. Even birthdate won’t match; when you join school, the headmaster puts a date. Why so much hassle? If you say you don’t know those questions, you know what my situation will be; tell me if you know. What will you do then? Am I not Indian? No, no, don’t worry. You’ll just lose citizenship; they’ll only take population data. Then, they’ll send a notice behind. When it’s like this, if you say “no” or “no Aadhaar,” then you won’t have passport, no Aadhaar, no voter ID. Their intention is to snatch voter rights from those who vote against them – that’s why all these laws are coming.”
He has regularly mocked and ridiculed Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her community background. Here are a few instances.
“Nirmala Mami”
In August 2023, the DMK organised a “day-long fast” on 20 August 2023 to protest against the union government’s insistence on continuing with the exam. Speaking at the event, DMK MP and former Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Dayanidhi Maran, 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.)
He continued to say, “That woman has no work in Tamil Nadu, she is not even an elected Rajya Sabha MP from Tamil Nadu, and she has never come to this side. She claims to have been born here and probably has her roots in Tamil Nadu, she knows several languages but doesn’t care for the state at all.”
“Unga Thopanaar”
In a nearly 18-minute-long tirade in Parliament in February 2024, Dayanidhi Maran went on a lengthy rant and peddled lies about the Finance Minister, the Prime Minister, and the BJP government at the centre while hiding facts from the members of the House.
He started by saying, “This interim budget is an eyewash, it is a huge disappointment especially since this budget is useless for the poor. The middle-class people were expecting tax benefits since they kept on saying they are doing good things but all they got was ‘naamam’” – a derogatory representation of the Vaishnavite mark on the forehead connected to cheating.
After fumbling through numbers and mumbling some nonsense on the budget, he starts to target Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He said, “We are proud of her since she is a Tamilian, she was born in TN and belongs to the state, we thought she was a good person, a mighty person, but all that comes out of her mouth is different from the truth. She said this interim budget was focused on the poor, youth, and women. But the truth is that the rich such as Ambani, Adani, and Tata are becoming richer and the poor becoming poorer. The revenue of India – 40% of it is held by the Tatas, Ambanis, and Adanis. The middle class is becoming poor, they are not having any income. They said they would provide jobs for youth, when – after they are re-elected to power. Mr Prime Minister, in 2014 you said you would generate 2 crore jobs per year, what happened to that? For 10 years you were all talk and no action – Dayanidhi Maran used the Tamil phrase “Vaaila Vadai Sudardu” to explain this. Opportunities for women are decreasing”, he further mumbled some numbers fumbling all the while.
He continued his tirade and peddled the same lies that the DMK has been peddling all this time. He said, “You waived off all the loans given to Ambani, Adani, and Tata (instead of saying write off)
You never waived off farmer loans but did that only for the rich people’s loans. You brought anti-farmer laws but the people opposed them and you repealed them.”
He again fumbles mentioning numbers about inflation. He claimed that the price of essential commodities was going up constantly, the highest in 30 years. He also added that people were instead losing their savings.
Now comes the anti-TN stance claim. He said, “Last year when the Michaung cyclone hit Chennai, our CM Stalin met PM and asked for ₹7033 crores as relief. ₹12655 crores was also asked. But till now what did we get? Zero. We did not receive even a naya paisa from the “Union” government. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh came to TN to oversee the relief efforts, and even Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also came, she saw, waved her hands, spoke some things, gave interviews, and left without giving even a single rupee. The cruelty of this is that we said we are not asking for your money, just give us from our tax revenue share, our TN’s future Udhayanidhi Stalin asked. He said, we are not asking for your money or your father’s money, just give our tax revenue share. In response to that, our Finance minister held a press conference, and for one hour she lashed out at us. What did she say? That Udhayanidhi Stalin did not speak respectfully, he should not say words like your father’s money or mother’s money. But she didn’t realise that the PM himself once asked if it was your “grandfather’s money”. Didn’t Nirmala Sitharaman find time to advise him? I am asking her, Madam Nirmala Sitharaman, you are speaking about mother’s money, I ask you in return, is it your father’s (thopanaar) money? (Here Dayanidhi Maran has used the word Thopanaar, which is a Tambram dialect directed at the background of Nirmala Sitharaman). If I say that, will it be nice? No, right? It is exactly that, your speech was filled with vehemence.”
“This Lady”
At a protest in Chennai in July 2024 protesting the “neglect” on TN, Maran spoke about Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He said, “The one who reads the budget, every single time, this Nirmala is there no, she always quotes a Thirukkural. This time, she neither quoted a Kural nor Tamil or Tamil Nadu. When they did not get votes from here (TN), they did this. I don’t know where this lady Nirmala Sitharaman studied on this earth. She created a new “East“. She says Bihar is East, Andhra Pradesh is East, and others are not. West Bengal is not East for her, nor is Odisha. Even though Andhra is only a short distance from here, it is east, and we are not. This is cheating. Nirmala Sitharaman has created a new earth.”
He further said, “I asked her, what is this, madam? Why are you saying this? Who elected you? She is not an elected member but a nominated member. So, she is not worried about the problems faced by the people.”
Recalling the floods of 2023 in TN, he said, “When the state was affected by the floods last year, it was a never-before-seen type of flood. The rains hit Thoothukudi in January 2024 after affecting Chennai in December 2023. It was an unprecedented flood. We asked them ₹35,000 crores; they gave us only ₹257 crores. They gave us peanuts and asked us to pick it up. But Bihar got ₹35,000 crores. Last year, Gujarat faced floods. They gave ₹1000 crores the next day without even being asked. Our CM is so great, he said he will ‘save the people whether you give us the money or not.”
DMK Ally VCK Chief Thirumavalavan
Speaking at a public meeting, VCK chief Thirumavalavan said, “They’re elevating Veer Savarkar as a great national leader. How dangerous that is! The “Hindu Rashtra” they talk about is fundamentally a Brahmin Rashtra; they want to create a nation for Brahmins. Here in India, indigenous people have their own languages, so each has their own nationalism. Hindi speakers have Hindi Bhoomi, Hindi nation; Tamil speakers have Tamil Nadu; every language speaker has their land. If tomorrow the country splits on language basis, we all have safety, except the “pappaan” (Brahmin). Which is his country? He speaks Sanskrit, is there a Sanskrit Bhoomi? He wants the entire Bharat as his nation. The political strategy he can wield for that is Hindutva. Modi and Amit Shah are the ones trapped in that illusion. They’ve got stuck in the Hindutva net that has been spread, and people are getting caught in it for posts, power, and mere political gain. If Modi thinks purely on policy, he’d have to stand with us, a non-Brahmin. If he thinks on ideology basis, Amit Shah would join Viduthalai Chiruthaigal party. But posts are what they want, power is what matters, let it be a Brahmin Rashtra. ‘We are Prime Minister; I am Home Minister.’ Their dream is a Brahmin Rashtra, a nation for Brahmins. There is no separate land for Brahmins on this earth; they strive to make all of India their nation. Their ultimate aim in dreaming of Hindu Rashtra is to create a country for Brahmins and rewrite history for themselves.”
DMK MLA Ezhilan
DMK MLA Ezhilan who is known for his vitriol against Hindus has also spewed venom against Brahmins. At a meeting, he is seen saying, “We saw a great drama (play/skit) here. They showed that Brahmins got scared and ran away. No, comrades, where did they run to? They ran abroad. They reached great heights. They’ve progressed so much that you can’t even touch them. Who internalized our Periyar’s ideology? Brahmin women. You can’t see bald-headed papathis (tonsured Brahmin women) anymore; Periyar got rid of them. But today, they’re sitting in top leadership in IITs, IIMs, software industries. They wear jeans pants, match up to a man and smoke too. Brahmin women have fully internalized Periyarism and are very loyal to their ideology. Then what are our women doing? I see our home women still living in complete slavery. Do our women fully internalize Periyar’s ideology? That’s my question. Everything is just lip service. There’s complete fear, if something happens, will something bad occur? That’s the full fear our women have. We have to wake them up and tell them: This is a lofty, inward-looking ideology, a fearless ideology, one that removes mental stress – this is the ideology. We must openly say it and be in that realm. Now, economically weakened as we are – who do you think funds RSS and BJP? Brahmins chased away by us indirectly fund them, send money, and turn it back against us here.”
DMK MLA & Education Minister Anbil Mahesh
Speaking at an event, Anbil Mahesh said, “In those days, Brahmins would all go to Thanthai Periyar and say, “We are only 3%. You’re so scared of us.” When Periyar was asked why they said things like that, Periyar would say, ‘Yes, it’s fear. In a village, a festival is happening; a thousand people participate. Then, he checks all his participating comrades by touching their pockets, because they might have money. In a crowd of a thousand, only three will be ‘Mudichaviki’ (derogatory term referring to Brahmins meaning thief). That’s what Periyar said.”
Dravidian Leader Sirpi Rajan
Sirpi Rajan, a senior Dravidian Stockist leader in this video recalls an anecdote about cutting janeu and shikha of Tamil Brahmins in the past. In the video, he says, “When I was a little boy, around 1965-66, all these Iyers (Brahmins) would bathe in the Cauvery River in Trichy, put on their sacred threads, and come out. Our comrades would stand there. They’d say, “Iyer, stay right there like that.” They’d immediately cut off the sacred thread. Cut the tuft (shikha) too. They’d have sickle knives. Cut the tuft. The Iyer wouldn’t speak or move. Wouldn’t budge an inch. If they made a fuss, they knew they will be assaulted. So, they’d stand still without protesting or speaking. After cutting, they’d (comrades) put it in a sack – not urea sacks like now, but regular jute sacks. Tie it into a bundle and send it to the “Ayya” (Periyar) in Chennai. It’d arrive at Viduthalai the next day: Thanjavur district – 125 sacred threads, 125 tufts. Trichy district – 85 sacred threads, 85 tufts. And so on. At the bottom, our Ayya (EVR) would write: “Trichy district needs to work more vigorously – short by 45 pieces.”
Dravidian Activist & Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam Founder Kovai Ramakrishnan
Speaking at a meeting, Dravidian activist Kovai Ramakrishnan is seen saying, “Back then, the educated ones were post office officers – Paappan (Brahmin); railway station station masters, Paappan. They were the educated ones. We’d take the bundles of Viduthalai (DK magazine) and deliver to them. We’d ask them to see if Ayya (EVR) wrote anything.” Immediately, “What is Ayya write?” Daily you ask, “What will Ayya write in this? This guy would scratch his head and tell him, No he said when he announces Agraharam (Brahmin colony) will be burned down he said, has he said anything? Any report like that? Check and tell.” The moment they’d say that, the pappaan would feel the heat and start burning on all sides. That’s how it was, when that feeling came from village to village. As soon as that happened, everyone went to Rajaji, fell at his feet, complained. Then Kamarajar went to Nehru and got that law amended. For the first time, the Dravidian model, the great Dravidian movement, got a political law amended. After that, two revolutions happened in it.”
At another meeting, Ramakrishnan is heard saying “Elders, Thanthai Periyar humbly told the Brahmins 70 years ago: “Brahmins, reform yourselves while I’m alive. I’m being mild now, but the group coming after me won’t be as mild as me. Bloodshed will occur; youth will come; children will come.” Today, they’ve arrived, in thousands, lakhs: youth and children. “Vazhai adi vazhai” (generation after generation meaning relentless pursuit) applies only to black shirts (Dravidians). It’s coming generation after generation. Today, we are united. Our teacher/sir Ayya who nurtured us all, made us leaders, spoke here. We don’t need to speak more; he said it. He said RSS’s terrorism – certainly, comrades. Next, this same team will massively, with Ayya teacher’s special address in Coimbatore. We will all join the stage there at the time he mentioned to complete the speech he gave here. Come; he’ll speak in detail there.”
Dravidian Activist Arivumathi
Speaking at a literary event, Dravidianist activist Arivumathi says, “But do you know what “Su” in my village’s name means? Sudhethriya village “Su” means an agraharam (Brahmin settlement) granted to some Brahmins by a king or zamindar. My village is Su Keenanur, near Vriddhachalam in Cuddalore district. There, they ruled. They owned 1500 acres. In those lands, very backward and depressed classes, Tamils who worked for them, grazed their sheep and cows, went barefoot to deliver, piled up, poured, strained for them, lived only for them, were oppressed there. Gradually, before Thanthi Periyar’s little light, some alert youth from our village sneaked into those Brahmin agraharam houses: put dried fish heads through the rooftops, bones of goat carcasses were thrown inside. In order to avoid seeing Shudra faces, the Tamil Brahmin women would go to bathe in Manimuthar riverbank to take morning bath. Our boys would dig holes and put stones inside those holes, cover the holes with leaves. When they went to bathe, they’d fall in. Tamils woke up: Then the Tamil Brahmins realised that they can’t live here anymore. In that situation, my Dravidian movement drove every single one of them out of my village. 60 years ago, where in Tamil Nadu…”
MK Stalin
DMK begins every political propaganda with an attack on Brahmins. Stalin was among those who led the attack. In an event, he says, “I am beginning my speech in front of you. From that time to this day in Tamil Nadu, those who are only 3 out of 100 have never been without displaying their guise/appearance. But because of the unity among those 3, which the other 97 lack, that’s why Varnashrama Dharma (reffering to caste system) keeps raising its head. To make us understand this and stay alert, Thanthai Periyar struggled throughout his life.”
Dravidian Stock Director Karu Palaniappan
Dravidian propagandist film director Karu Palaniappan also called for violence against Tamil Brahmins. In a speech, he says, “In the village, we are the 1,000 people. They are only 2, isn’t it? Even if those 2 create fear in us, if we 1,000 stand united, they will get scared. I keep repeating, they’ll never step down unless we thrash them. Like we say “tyre-licker tyre-licker,” he’s even more lowly – a shoe-licker. We are ignoring him and targeting this one. We have no hesitation in taking a beating. Why? My grandfather and your grandfather got beaten during the freedom struggle. Your father and my father got beaten during the language war. We are the third generation; we are used to it. He’s never received a beating before – this is his first time; see what happens to him. Contesting him like that is key.”
These are just a few of the clippings circulating on the internet where Dravidianists have mocked and called for violence against Tamil Brahmins. There are a lot more, there is a lot more literature, there are several instances that went unreported. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence too that has been sidelined by mainstream Dravidianist media.
This article is based on an X thread by Baskar.
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