In a viral video clip circulating on social media, K Ponmudi, the Higher Education minister in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government, can be heard asserting that the formation of the I.N.D.I.A alliance was primarily aimed at opposing Sanatana Dharma.
These remarks were delivered during the same conference dedicated to the eradication of Sanatana Dharma, where Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, had likened Sanatana Dharma to diseases such as malaria, corona, and dengue, advocating for its elimination.
Ponmudi emphasized that the ideology of opposing Sanatana Dharma was a shared objective within the alliance, transcending any internal differences among its member parties.
He further explained that all members of the alliance were united in their commitment to promoting equality, protecting minority rights, and ensuring gender equality. The I.N.D.I.A alliance, consisting of 26 political parties, was established to raise social awareness and consciousness on these crucial issues.
“Through the media and the press, our principle of opposing Sanatana Dharma… I.N.D.I.A… our friends here have already mentioned… This I.N.D.I.A is an alliance formed against Sanatana Dharma. We may have our disagreements. But no one has any difference of opinion on opposing Sanatana Dharma. Everyboy in this alliance want to bring out equality, protect minorities, equality between men and women. This is the agenda of the 26 parties that have formed the I.N.D.I.A alliance. For this to happen, we need political power.”, Ponmudi said.
Ponmudi concluded by highlighting the significance of achieving political success to effectively address these matters, emphasizing the importance of political victories.
It’s worth noting that this video surfaced following statements from several I.N.D.I.A alliance members, including the Trinamool Congress, the Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who expressed their disagreement with Udhayanidhi’s remarks.
"I.N.D.I.A alliance is formed to fight against the principles of Santana Dharma, we may have our differences among us but the 26 parties in the alliance are united in the fight against Santana Dharma but we need political power for that" DMK Minister Ponmudi. pic.twitter.com/tKQTTv1VsZ
In what can be considered as a crass tweet laden with sexual innuendo, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son and DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin asked a woman netizen why she was concerned about what was happening inside his pants to a political jibe thrown at him.
Udhayanidhi Stalin had shared an image of a mosquito coil which is aimed at countering Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai’s characterisation of DMK as the “Dengue Malaria Kosu (Mosquito)”.
This tweet from Udhayanidhi Stalin was met with strong public disapproval and criticism, especially considering the recent death of a young child from a mosquito-borne illness (dengue) in their locality.
A woman netizen named Savitri Mumukshu had taken a jibe at the Udhayanidhi Stalin saying “Why have you put a photo of what’s happening inside the rear part of your pants? Not that it looks any different from when you open your mouth.” to which the DMK Minister replied “Why are you seeing what’s happening inside my pants? not a good behaviour”
Why are you seeing what’s happening inside my pants? 😳 not a good behaviour
Screenshot of the tweet in case DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin deletes it
The above tweet of Udhayanidhi Stalin comes across as crass and laden with sexual innuendo.
Money won’t buy you class. This guy is in this position only because of piggy backing karunanidhi & Stalin. He’s unfit for any office job. https://t.co/Sj4BeNCVuI
I don't know what kind of attitude is carried just because you are in a position which is of no hardwork of self. If it was self, I am sure these kind of people will declare themselves as GOD. https://t.co/0rGu9I0F03
On the other hand many Dravidian Stock handles and DMK supporters were seen going gaga over the crass, sexist and inappropriate comment of the DMK Minsiter.
He knows how to deal with sanghis. He literally giving belt treatment to them. Take a bowe king 👑 https://t.co/IojT4oHlt8
The tragic passing of a 4-year-old boy undergoing treatment for dengue fever in Chennai’s Maduravoyal region has left the community deeply saddened. Nevertheless, it is disheartening to observe ministers of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK), including Udhayanidhi Stalin, who are responsible for public welfare, engaging in emotionally charged ‘Sanatana Dharma’ politics. Demonstrating a lack of empathy, Udhayanidhi continues his Sanatana Dharma political tactic by sharing an image of a mosquito coil as a subtle jab at Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) leader Annamalai, when the state’s health care system is in need of attention.
Ayyanar and Sonia, residents of Maduravoyal, Chennai, are parents to two sons. Their elder son, Rakshan, aged 4, was a pre-KG student at a local private school. On 6 September 2023, Rakshan was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Children’s Hospital in Egmore due to a persistent fever, later diagnosed as dengue fever. Tragically, despite intensive medical care, the young boy succumbed to the illness, leaving his family devastated.
In the aftermath of Rakshan’s death, the grieving parents and relatives staged a protest, placing the boy’s body on the road. They alleged negligence on the part of municipal officials, holding them responsible for their son’s demise. Police intervened to manage the situation and initiate negotiations with the distraught family.
Residents in the area have raised concerns about the lack of proper water supply infrastructure. They claimed that the water, transported by corporation vehicles and stored in barrels due to the absence of a water pipe facility, became a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes. Furthermore, residents pointed out the absence of a functional sewage system and the illegal disposal of wastewater in the area, leading to foul odour and potential health risks for children and adults alike. They are demanding accountability and action against the responsible officers and employees of the corporation.
Amidst this dire situation, Udhayanidhi Stalin, often seen as a de facto Chief Minister, chose to engage in ‘Sanatana Dharma’ political tactics. In a move seemingly aimed at countering Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai’s characterisation of DMK as the “Dengue Malaria Kosu (Mosquito)” party, Udhayanidhi shared an image of a mosquito coil. However, this tweet was met with strong public disapproval and criticism, especially considering the fresh wound of a young child’s death from a mosquito-borne illness in their locality.
Addressing Udhayanidhi Stalin in a tweet, an angry social media user expressed, “Mr. Udhayanithi Stalin, why share such an absurd post when you haven’t been able to effectively combat dengue? Much like your father, who bears a resemblance to King Nero, it seems you’re also fiddling while real issues persist.”
Amid severe backlash from fans and people around the state in Tamil Nadu, AR Rahman finally made a response pertaining to the 10 September 2023 incidents at the Marakkuma Nenjam concert near Chennai.
The concert is aptly titled “Marakkuma Nenjam” – which roughly translates to Will the heart forget? After experiencing a nightmare, the attendees are sure to never forget their harrowing encounter.
The event was originally scheduled for August but owing to the weather, it was postponed to September. The event took place at Adityaram Palace City in Paniyur near ECR.
Thanks to blatant mismanagement, concert-goers endured a series of woeful incidents. These included being denied entry to the venue despite having valid tickets, losing track of their children, relatives, or friends in the crowded chaos, experiencing panic attacks, facing instances of groping and molestation, and feeling suffocated due to the lack of space. The already challenging situation was exacerbated by the traffic in Chennai, poor parking availability, and the fact that it was a Sunday evening.
Vague Responses To The Incident
Rahman issued a vague statement on X on 11 September 2023, which did not come across as an apology or a show of empathy towards the fans regarding the events that transpired the previous evening. He did not mention anything about issuing a refund, he just posted, “Dearest Chennai Makkale, those of you who purchased tickets and weren’t able to enter owing to unfortunate circumstances, please do share a copy of your ticket purchase to arr4chennai@btos.in along with your grievances. Our team will respond asap”.
Dearest Chennai Makkale, those of you who purchased tickets and weren’t able to enter owing to unfortunate circumstances, please do share a copy of your ticket purchase to arr4chennai@btos.in along with your grievances. Our team will respond asap🙏@BToSproductions@actcevents
Speaking to The Hindu about the issue, he said, “It was a tsunami of people and love that we were unable to handle, as a composer, my job was to give a terrific show, and I thought everything else would be taken care of. I was just thinking that it shouldn’t rain, and was happily performing inside, without any idea of what was happening outside. Our intentions were good, but I think the response was beyond our expectations. We are collecting the data now, and we will surprise fans with something soon.”
“Right now, we are just terribly disturbed. Safety was the primary issue, especially because there were women and kids. I don’t want to point fingers at anyone, but we have to realise that the city is expanding, and the passion to consume music and art is also expanding.”
When asked about the poor crowd management and oversold tickets, he responds, “The organisers (ACTC events) had put together about 46,000 chairs in the venue. In some sections, everybody sat on one side and didn’t move to the other side. Seeing this, the policemen on duty assumed that the venue was full and closed it. By this time, the show had already started inside.”
“This was like a cyclone we did not plan for. We did 20 concerts in the US last year, and everything was smooth and trouble-free — because we trusted the system there. ‘Marakkuma Nenjam’ is India’s highest-sold show to date, which is great, but it is more important how we treat people than the actual concert itself. And that, I had little control over. I knew what all songs to pack in, which singers to rope in, and what musical surprises to give fans, but going forward, artistes have to take leadership on measuring contractually what goes into these arrangements.”
Where Is The Apology?
Rahman has hosted several concerts worldwide as well as in India, however, Sunday evening’s turn of events left a dreadfully bitter taste in their mouths. He, however, did not even apologise to his fans for going through what they did, he replied to this with something vague – “For global experiences, we need to have an international setup. This is a lesson for me. It pushes me to go beyond being a musician and get involved in infrastructure as well. I’ve been to many arts collective in the world, and when I see those, I think: why deny this experience to our own people right here in Chennai? They deserve that, and more. What it takes is what we discovered during this concert.”
Calls It A Success Despite The Severe Inconvenience Caused
According to Rahman, ‘Marakkuma Nenjam’ which featured a repertoire of hits from the past three decades for the audience is a ‘90% success and a 10% loss’, with hits spanning 30 years being dished out for the audience. “Thousands of people inside were happily listening to the concert,” he says, “The energy and love in Chennai is overwhelming; sometimes when you love something too much, it goes away from you. I think that’s what has happened here. I am ambitious about making Chennai an arts capital, but with respect to what happened, I do not want to point fingers at anyone because I know people come to concerts for me, and not for who the organisers are.” “We will face this and fix it because every soul is important to me. I told my son (AR Ameen) this: anything that we do in partnership, people do not look at the partnership, they look at us. The partnerships might disappear, but we will remain. I now have to think beyond just the musical aspects of a concert. We will, hopefully, not let this happen ever again.”
Coimbatore Event
It seems that what happened in Payinur was not the first time it happened – this occurred to a similar extent at the concert held in Coimbatore as well. Poor management and seat allocation by the organisers resulted in the attendees breaking the barricades and indulging in arguments with the bouncers. Videos capturing this disruptive scene had become viral.
Numerous users on social media, particularly X, expressed their dissatisfaction with AR Rahman and his team, citing what they perceived as inadequate event planning and organisation. Reports indicate that there were issues such as insufficient management, and even attendees who had purchased Rs 5000 tickets for the live concert encountered problems, including a shortage of available chairs.
Poorly organised, bad crowd control. No chairs for ₹5000 tkts. Ppl crashing into the ₹5k enclosure😔
The event organisers also did not offer any apology for the gross mismanagement and subsequent events nor did they mention anything about a refund. They posted,
Grateful to Chennai and the legendary @arrahman Sir! The incredible response, the overwhelming crowd made our show a massive success. Those who couldn't attend on overcrowding, Our sincere apologies. We take full responsibility and accountable. We are with you. #MarakkumaNenjam
I just spoke to my cousin who just came from #arrahmanconcert#marakumanenjam it is complete chaos, and there were stampede and harassment of women. he traveled from Erode for this concert and witnessed this charade, he says it was the same in #Coimbatore concert.
Dear Chennai People! @actcevents already did so many cheating things during Coimbatore concert! With poor management, now thousands of people are suffering in Chennai concert! Sad to see this! They perfectly used #Arrahman into this🥲#MarakkumaNenjam
Neither did he apologise in apt language for what happened at the Coimbatore event nor did he say anything similar for the Chennai event. Will AR Rahman ever apologise to all those fans who have been traumatised by what happened on 10 September 2023?
Film music composer AR Rahman’s Marakkuma Nenjam (Will the heart forget?) concert at Paniyur, outside of Chennai, on 10 September 2023 turned out to be a nightmare for the fans.
The concert was initially scheduled to take place on 12 August 2023. However, it was cancelled due to excessive rain. It was later announced that the concert would take place on 10 September 2023 and was attended by thousands of people.
"Stampede, Molestation, Scam, Extortion, Overcrowding, Shoddy audio, Panic attack, Children Missing, No accountability" these are the descriptions tweeted about #ARRConcert#ARRahman concert in his city #chennai
The concert was scheduled to begin at 7 PM. Many of them were said to have been caught in traffic jams for more than 4 hours.
Should the public suffer so much for the sake of a concert. Think about an ambulance or ppl traveling in emergency getting struck in this traffic.Event organizers and authorities who gave permission to this event at this venue to be held responsible. #ARRahman#marakumanenjampic.twitter.com/JomicuprOt
There was no proper parking at the venue and many were found returning home after the arduous 4-5 hour journey to the concert venue. Several attendees told news media that they parked their cars on the way and walked nearly 3km to reach the venue because of the traffic and no parking availability at the premises.
What happened today was an absolute scam @arrahman.
You literally scammed thousands of people and took us all for granted. #ARRahman Don't you even have a basic background check team to see what the capacity can hold? #marakumanenjampic.twitter.com/5ZIUc7Vc8E
In this video, we see a visibly displeased fan complaining. He says, “One of the worst arrangements I have ever seen. We’ve been stranded for 8 hours in total.”
At the venue fans with cars trying to enter but the person at the gate says, “if there is parking we will allow you. There is no parking here.”
Police are also seen to be trying to navigate the traffic and are seen diverting the people to another location to try for parking. People were going in circles to find a parking spot and were seen to be visibly very angry at the arrangements.
No Entry To Venue
Several of them were not allowed inside despite having purchased tickets worth 5000/10000 rupees. ACTC Events, organisers of the concert, were slammed for overselling the tickets. One of them speaking to the news reporter said that people were sitting anywhere and everywhere and not according to their ticket type. Here in this video, the lady says that “in the Diamond Seat, people who had bought other tickets were seated. There is a 2km long queue to go inside the venue. Those who are leaving are saying that since there is too much crowd, there might be a stampede, so please leave the premises. So we are also leaving. The organisers have to be answerable for creating such a situation.”
Another disgruntled fan said, “There is absolutely no way we can go in, we wanted to at least have a glimpse of the star but we couldn’t. If they sell 50,000 tickets for an event that can house 20,000 people, this is what will happen. We didn’t expect such a programme from AR Rahman. We came with high expectations but it was all a waste. We can still overlook the money and time wasted in the process, but what if someone had died inside? Even those who have parked their cars are unable to take it out. Everyone is making money out of it, the organisers must be held accountable.”
It doesn’t matter which category one bought the ticket for; one can freely enter the higher level with no one to check, coordinate, or organize thing.
Another lady spoke to news media and said, “I got this tag (points to her wrist) at 3.30 PM and they asked me to go to the venue, Spring City at 4. When I reached there at 4, they said the venue was full.”
“They could have intimated if there was a traffic-related problem beforehand and asked us to come in early. They (organisers) have our phone numbers. They could have at least done this, see how many people have been discomforted. Elders, children, people of all ages are being subjected to this kind of treatment.”
The fans also pointed out the fact that when the concert was cancelled for the first time, “he shared a video on his social media and that he was smiling and laughing in it. He didn’t feel any form of regret that it was cancelled. This is a scam,” they said.
Another lady said, “Thankfully I came out, there is no space to even stand. Had I stayed in there for one more minute, my son would have died. They were pressing on his head and squeezing! Are they even human beings? We have paid 10000 for the ticket and there is no proper segregation of seats based on the ticket type, everyone can sit anywhere! I have paid 30000 for 3 tickets, we have come out just to save our lives.”
When the fans questioned the organisers, they were given a reply saying, “We have no idea about this”
Children Missing, Stampede & Women Molested
Many claimed that women were molested in the stampede and parents lost their children in the crowd. It has been reported that many of the attendees experienced suffocation and some of them even fainted.
Dravidiyas love molestation. After all that's what EVR prescribed and the cheap shills dutifully follow and propagate..this marunthaiya no exception https://t.co/XjgmpDF9IEpic.twitter.com/S2oVjTIjJK
Watched people telling about how some mothers were crying with kids in proximity n unable to reach them 😭😭. Imagine if someone had lost their life?! And men always always take advantage of crowd scenarios to molest women. Rahman should apologise, take responsibility mainly.
Fans also questioned why the organisers and AR Rahman’s team couldn’t check if the venue could handle a large number of people.
Many children went missing and several individuals, and parents experienced panic attacks due to the crowd inside the venue.
The fans who were able to enter the concert venue (many of them reached early to the venue, by 2-3 PM) complained of poor audio.
Fan Reactions
Many fans took to X asking AR Rahman to issue an apology and statement regarding the mismanagement. Fans demanded a refund from the organisers and narrated their harrowing experience to news reporters at the venue. Many of them also shared their views on X.
@actcevents@arrahman and everybody else involved in #marakumanenjam and #ARRahman live. We need answers, accountability, refunds and much more. The organizing today was pathetic, and not only from an experience POV but dangers to health&safety. Videos attached, thread follows. pic.twitter.com/hf7fnyDVHc
Bharatiya Janata Party Youth Wing, Tamil Nadu President Ramesh Shivaa took to X to complain about how his relatives faced the trouble. He posted, “My sister and brother-in-law just returned from AR Rahman concert, they told me how AR Rahman has Shamelessly Scammed them. 1) Doesn’t matter what Ticket you had bought, cause there was not a Single Person checking Tickets so it was total Chaos, so everyone could be anywhere. 2) They said they have put 50,000 chairs, but there was less than 5000 chairs, also they probably sold way more than that supposedly. 3) Total Stampede, my sister says she felt she was going to get Crushed from the Crowd and there was Not a Single Volunteer. 4) Car parking was absolutely awful with again not a Single Volunteer to help. 5) Scamster AR Rahman to cut his losses for the fact that his last Concert was cancelled, has Oversold and Under Delivered, not even taking into consideration the Safety of his Fans. It is Time AR Rahman gets down from his High Horse and refunds the money back to his fans. The event was organized by ACTC Events, you guys should be Sued.”
My sister and brother-in-law just returned from @arrahman comcert, they told me how @arrahman has Shamelessly Scammed them.
1) Doesn’t matter what Ticket you had bought, cause there was not a Single Person checking Tickets so it was total Chaos, so everyone could be anywhere. 2)… https://t.co/nQiGctnvor
Hearing lot of complaints regarding AR Rahman concert. People couldnt enter the venue and returning home. Pathetic Management 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/AzPp9biI4C
Many fans came all the way from Madurai, Vellore, Bangalore and failed to get inside the venue. They complained that it was unsafe, children were crying and dangerous for elders, that a stampede could happen any time. They were all returning home after spending all those hours travelling and waiting. Some of them were separated from their families, they also said that there was no network at the venue and they were unable to contact their family members.
1) Poor Crowd mgmt ,Stampede like situation, 0 Safety 2) Ticket Scam, many were sent back even with legal tkts 3) Poor Sound System 4) Poor car parking fclty 5) Utter Chaos#ARRahman#ARR#marakumanenjam pic.twitter.com/1U84hkcB1l
@actcevents@arrahman#marakumanenjam 1)Absolute bloody shitshow! The A. R. Rahman concert in Chennai was the most horribly organised event amongst the new wave concerts being organised recently. Thousands of people, gathered from various cities with their families never got in pic.twitter.com/VEhzhQ8jBM
Despite all this chaos, the concert was conducted as per schedule. It was reported that something similar happened during the Coimbatore concert by the same artist.
Organisers Response
The organisers ACTC Events posted a very lame reply trivialising the traumatic experience from yesterday’s event. They posted, “Grateful to Chennai and the legendary AR Rahman Sir! The incredible response, the overwhelming crowd made our show a massive success. Those who couldn’t attend on overcrowding, Our sincere apologies. We take full responsibility and accountable. We are with you. #MarakkumaNenjam”
Grateful to Chennai and the legendary @arrahman Sir! The incredible response, the overwhelming crowd made our show a massive success. Those who couldn't attend on overcrowding, Our sincere apologies. We take full responsibility and accountable. We are with you. #MarakkumaNenjam
AR Rahman on the other hand, did not post any apology for the great inconvenience caused to the public. But he reshared a video of a fan who had been able to enter and be a part of the event.
Sad to see a beautiful concert marred by some unfortunate events. Hope everyone has returned back home safely. We went inside with a group of 10 much early and didn’t have any issues except the delay while coming out #MarakkumaNenjampic.twitter.com/LF2UWAJgEv
This was how the organisers behaved when they were questioned why people had to stand and there was no seat for hundreds of attendees, especially when they claim that over 45000 chairs were arranged – they responded rudely, shouted at the attendees, and showed scant respect for those asking the right questions.
Venkatesh Prasad, a former Indian cricketer and currently a coach, came down heavy on the self-styled self-proclaimed ‘fact-checker’ Mohammed Zubair of Alt News, for twisting his tweet out of context and politicizing it.
“It takes one corrupt, arrogant guy to take away the hard work of an organisation that is generally non-corrupt and get a stamp of corruption on the whole leadership, not just on a micro level but at a large level.“, read Prasad’s deleted tweet.
However, Mohammed Zubair stated that Prasad deleted his tweet while sharing screenshots of other tweets in which it was alleged that Prasad was hinting at Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Jay Shah (Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s son).
With Venkatesh Prasad’s tweet gaining traction, the former cricketer who had deleted the tweet lashed out at the Alt News co-founder for masquerading as a fact-checker while being a ‘serial hate-monger’. Prasad also accused Zubair of putting lives at risk and posting derogatory content about Hindu Gods, expressing his disappointment that such individuals masquerade as journalists and seek donations.
“Now post that you need money to survive and ask for donations for your website, No shame in living off by fooling people,” Prasad added.
Haha.. Says a serial hate- monger, who has put so many lives in danger for his agenda. You disguising as a fact-checker is like Terrorists talking about peace. Now post that you need money to survive and ask for donation for your website, no shame in living off by fooling… https://t.co/CjPrtAdC24pic.twitter.com/ei16dx1wPp
In response to this, Zubair went on to allege that Prasad’s tweet was hinting at the BCCI and made baseless remarks about Prasad acting at the behest of his “political masters”.
Hope you'll be forgiven for your tweet on BCCI by your political masters for compensating by abusing and comparing me to "Terrorists". https://t.co/aBQfOvUbWA
Further, the Islamist journalist went on to duck the blame saying “many pointed out his deleted tweet” and abused the former Indian cricketer as “Fattu” (a derogatory Hindi slang word meaning coward).
Many pointed out his deleted tweet. But he chose to attack and abuse me for obvious reasons. Fattu. https://t.co/ibFyFSiLVE
However, Prasad had clarified that his tweet was a general tweet and did not point out at anybody. “Since i was also speaking about the inefficiency of the BCCI around tickets in othsr tweets, it led to confusion and looked out of context. Hence deleted, varna naam lekar khulkar bolne mein Rambhakt kisiko chhodte nahin, Jai Shree Ram” calling himself aRambhakt who doesn’t shy away from naming anyone.
That was a general tweet where i spoke about how one person who is corrupt can undo a lot of good work of his organisation and it can have large scale implication on a macro level as well in any field. Since i was also speaking about the inefficiency of the BCCI around tickets… https://t.co/cbZTUeg1qO
However, in this spat between Venkatesh Prasad and Mohammed Zubair, the Congress ecosystem and leftist-Islamist groups rallied behind Zubair, defending him despite his questionable actions.
Indian Youth Congress President BV Srinivas said that the cricketing legend descended into disgrace.
Vijay Thottathil, Social media coordinator of Overseas Congress said “It’s heartbreaking to see your childhood heroes stoop so low ! Amir Zohal wicket still keeps flashing and one of the best moment of Indian cricket but to please masters people forget their dignity, self respect and credibility! In a flash hero to zero.”
It’s heartbreaking to see your childhood heroes stoop so low !
Amir Zohal wicket still keeps flashing and one of the best moment of Indian cricket but to please masters people forget their dignity, self respect and credibility!
Cartoonist Satish Acharya who is known for peddling Congress propaganda said “I’ve been your fan for decades. And this language broke my heart, Venky sir.”
I've been your fan for decades. And this language broke my heart, Venky sir. 😥 https://t.co/Q8pkuoMAsj
Leftist and Dravidianist outlet The News Minute carried a headline in which it brushed Zubair’s doings under the carpet while accusing the former Indian cricketer of “abusing” a “journalist”.
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The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan has extended an invitation to intersex activist Gopi Shankar Madurai to grace the inaugural ceremony of the colossal 108 feet moorthi (statue) of Adi Shankara at Omkareshwar Dham.
In a bid to promote Advaita Vedanta philosophy and honor the legacy of Adi Shankaracharya, the Madhya Pradesh government has announced the establishment of the grand universal center of Oneness, named ‘Ekatma Dham.’
The project aims to popularize the teachings of Advaita Vedanta and will feature a 108-foot multi-metal statue of child Shankar in a symbolic posture of embarking on a spiritual journey.
The ‘Ekatma Dham’ project will also include the establishment of ‘Advaita Loka’ and the ‘Acharya Shankar International Institute of Advaita Vedanta.’ Leveraging modern technology and innovative expressions of Indian art traditions, it will showcase the life and philosophy of Adi Shankaracharya in an effective and attractive manner. Notable features of the project include the ‘Advaita Nauka Vihar,’ a high-screen theatre, a ‘Panchayatan Temple,’ ‘Srishti: a Vedanta interpretation center,’ ‘Annapoorna,’ and ‘Advaita Kalagrama.’
The grand unveiling ceremony of the ‘Statue of Oneness’ and the foundation laying ceremony of ‘Advaita Loka’ are scheduled to take place at 10:30 AM on 18 September, 2023.
For this event, the Chief Minister has extended an invitation to intersex activist, and southern representative of the National Council for Transgender Persons, Gopi Shankar Madurai acknowledging their presence as a symbol of India’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity.
Speaking to The Commune, Gopi said that this is the first time that people belonging to the intersex community have been invited for such an occasion.
“This is very heartening and a moment of joy for us. It is a big representation and an honour for our community. It is not just about dignity. This is real equality. That people from the intersex community are being invited to witness the historic moment of the inauguration of the 108 feet Adi Shankara staute is something that needs to be highlighted.“, Gopi said.
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The Sanatana Dharma fire continues to rage with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son and DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin asserting vehemently on 9 September 2023, that he is not bothered even if the government falls and that he stands by his words of eradicating Sanatana Dharma (aka Hinduism).
Responding to a reporter on the outrage over his Sanatana Dharma remark, Udhayanidhi Stalin said “The DMK party itself was started for this purpose (eradicating Sanatana Dharma). We’re not worried about the government. We will stand for our principles.”
When another reporter inquired if he was suggesting that he remains unconcerned about the DMK government falling because of his “Eradicate Sanatana Dharma” remark, Udhayanidhi Stalin replied affirmatively.
The reporter asked “Sir, you’re saying you’re not worried about the government falling because of your opposition to Sanatana Dharma? Can we take it that way?” to which the DMK Minister nodded saying “Yes, you can“.
He also said “I have not spoken anything which Periyar, Ambedkar and Anna have not spoken.”
The DMK Minister also sought the opinion of AIADMK on the matter saying “All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Their party name has Anna’s name. Nobody has spoken about ‘opposing’ Sanatana like Anna has. He has spoken a lot. He spoken a lot against Sanatana Dharma. What is their (AIADMK) opinion on this? That is all I want to know. When you meet the AIADMK leaders, ask them this question.”
With many members of the I.N.D.I Alliance including Mamata Banerjee (TMC), Arvind Kejriwal (AAP), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena – UBT) distancing themselves from the DMK Minister’s remarks, the latest assertion by Udhayanidhi Stalin is further expected to harm the prospects of the alliance.
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On Saturday (9 September 2023), Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his capacity as the President of G20, called for a global collaborative effort to address the prevailing “trust deficit” in the world and to seek solutions to pressing issues like terrorism, food security, and water security. This collective action, he emphasized, is crucial for the well-being of both current and future generations.
These remarks were made during the inaugural day of the G20 summit, which took place in New Delhi. The G20 is an intergovernmental platform for economic cooperation comprising the 19 largest economies, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU).
PM Modi extended an invitation to G20 member nations to work together in transforming the existing “global trust deficit” into a foundation built on trust and resilience. He stressed the importance of unity with the mantra, “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas,” as a guiding principle for all.
He highlighted a range of critical challenges that require concerted efforts, including economic instability, disparities between the North and South, geographical divides between the East and West, and the management of issues related to food, fuel, terrorism, cyber security, health, energy, and water security. The need for tangible solutions to these challenges was underscored by PM Modi.
To provide context, the G20 was originally established in 1999 in response to the Asian financial crisis, primarily serving as a platform for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss global economic and financial matters. Its significance grew in 2008 amid the global economic and financial crisis, elevating its status to that of Head of State/Government level. In 2009, it was officially designated as the “premier forum for international economic cooperation.”
The G20 Summit convenes annually, led by a rotating Presidency. It operates through two primary tracks: the Finance Track, led by Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, and the Sherpa Track, which is steered by Sherpas following the Finance Track discussions.
In a remarkable achievement, the Nataraja statue, made from Ashtadhatu (octo-alloy of eight metals – gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, tin, iron, and mercury) has found its place of honour at the Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan, the venue of the G20 Summit.
This statue is not only a symbol of tradition and heritage but also a testament to the craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations of sculptors since the Chozha era. It was meticulously sculpted by the renowned artist Radhakrishnan Sthapathy of Swami Malai, Tamil Nadu, and his dedicated team, who completed this monumental task in a record-breaking time of 6 months.
The magnificent Nataraja statue at Bharat Mandapam brings to life aspects of our rich history and culture. As the world gathers for the G20 summit, it will stand as a testament to India's age-old artistry and traditions. https://t.co/uFEcx22jgi
Speaking to India Today, Shri Radhakrishnan Sthapathy said, “This makes the sculptors of Swamimalai very proud that something that we made has made it to the G20 for the world to see. I also feel proud that the world’s tallest Nataraja statue was made by me, I am at a loss for words and cannot describe what I am feeling now.”
Wowed by the massive Nataraja statue at Bharat Mandapam? Here’s Mr Radhakrishna, the humble sculptor from Swamimalai district in TN speaking in Tamil about how proud he feels seeing his work of art at Bharat Mandapam! pic.twitter.com/7vz2cRVKZ0
A few facts about the Bharat Mandapam Nataraja Statue:
1. It is the world’s largest Nataraja statue standing tall at 28 feet
2. It weighs around 18 tonnes
3. The statue was made with a single-casting using the ancient lost-wax method introduced by the Chozhas
4. The statue was created by combining the attributes of the Nataraja murtis in Chidambaram Nataraja temple, Thanjavur Big Temple, and Vellore Jalakanteshwarar temple.
5. 32 people worked on making the statue. They include: Brothers of Radhakrishnan Sthapathy – Srikantan, Swaminathan, and Raghavan, his 3 sons, and his friends from college as well as the people of Swamimalai.
World’s Tallest Nataraja Statue And Its Connection To The Thanjavur Big Temple
Radhakrishna Sthapathy (Sthapathy, a title denoting a temple sculptor, is akin to the title ‘doctor’ in their respective professions, signifying their expertise and specialisation) comes from an ancient lineage that has left an indelible mark on sacred artistry for centuries. The illustrious story begins around the 13th century when the ancestors of Radhakrishnan, now in their 9th generation, embarked on a journey from Senji (Gingee near Thiruvannamalai) to Thanjavur to help build the iconic Thanjavur Big Temple aka the Brihadeeshwara Temple.
Image Courtesy: S.Devasenathipathy Sthapathy Sons Facebook Page
The journey of this remarkable lineage is a testament to their unwavering commitment to the art of temple sculpture. After the completion of the Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple, they set out to build the awe-inspiring Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in present day Ariyalur district. Once that architectural marvel was complete, the focus shifted to the equally magnificent Darasuram Temple in Kumbakonam followed by the construction of the Swamimalai Temple.
After the completion of the temple construction, some families chose to make Swamimalai their home owing to the quality of sand and silt available in this Cauvery region, furthering their expertise in sculpting. Radhakrishnan, a member of the 9th generation, stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of this family of sculptors.
Radhakrishnan in an interview educates us that his ancestors were not merely metal sculptors; they were versatile artisans capable of working on wood, metal, and, of course, magnificent stone sculpting. They were also adept at making exquisite jewelry for the deities and crafting vessels meant for sacred rituals.
One of the most distinguishing features of their work is their specialization in Panchaloha sculpting, which involves the meticulous combination of five metals. While this tradition has been passed down through generations, one branch of the family, led by Devasenapathy Sthapathy, decided to specialise exclusively in Panchaloha sculpting.
The Present Generation
The lineage’s commitment to preserving their artistry through formal education is commendable. Radhakrishna Sthapathy, a torchbearer of this heritage, studied at the Government College of Architecture and Sculpture in Mahabalipuram, completing a rigorous five-year course. His guru, Vaidyanatha Ganapati Sthapati, is renowned for crafting the iconic Thiruvalluvar statue at Kanyakumari.
Srikanda Sthapathy, Radhakrishna’s second son, also immersed himself in the family tradition and learned the intricate art of Chola-era sculpture. Swaminatha Sthapathy, the third son of Devasenapathy Sthapathy also continued this legacy by studying under his father’s tutelage.
This lineage of master sculptors has an awe-inspiring legacy that extends across the globe, shaping the spiritual landscape of various countries and earning a prestigious GI tag for their craft. After a legal struggle, they successfully obtained a patent for their craftsmanship to protect their reputation from being tarnished by counterfeit imitations in the market.
The impact of this lineage on the global stage is truly impressive. They have contributed their expertise to renowned temples worldwide, creating awe-inspiring sculptures and idols that continue to captivate devotees. They predominantly work on crafting the “utsava murti” or the idol that is a representation of the main deity. In some temples, the bronze idol is also the main deity.
Notable Work Done By The Sculptors
1. London Murugan Temple: Crafting the vigrahas for this iconic temple.
London Murugan Temple
2. London Lakshminarayan Temple: Creating all the vigrahas.
3. Birmingham Balaji Temple: Sculpting the Ayyappa idol
Ayyappan idol at Birmingham Balaji Temple
4. London Saiva Munnetra Sangam: Crafting idols of the 63 Nayanmars and the Nataraja Sivagami idols at this temple
5. Muthumariamman temple in Croydon – crafted the deity
25. Batu Caves Temple in Malaysia – 3ft tall Gnanavelu Lamp
Work Done For Famous Personalities
An Ardhanaareeshwarar idol masterpiece was crafted in just 15 days as requested by the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. It was presented to MGR’s doctor who operated on him (kidney transplant)
Dr. MGR presenting the Ardhanareeswarar Statue to his doctor Eli Friedman; Credits: Mount Next Digital Channel
Devasenapathy Sthapathy presented a statue of former Chief Minister Karunanidhi’s mother to him during a felicitation ceremony
Image Credits: Mount Next Digital Channel
A statue of King Manuneedhi Chozhan was also presented in 1974 to the former CM by Devasenapathy Sthapathy at the request of then Papanasam MLA N. Ganapathy
Statue of Manu Neethi Chozhan presented to Karunanidhi; Image Credits: Mount Next Digital Channel
At the request of former Minister Murasoli Maran, the Kalyana Sundarar statue was made by the team and it is now housed in Sun TV corporate office in Chennai.
Statue of Kalyana Sundara Perumal that Murasoli Maran had personally requested to be made; Image Credits: Mount Next Digital Channel
This extraordinary lineage of sculptors continues to shape the spiritual landscape of the world, keeping alive the ancient traditions and techniques of temple artistry. Their commitment to excellence, formal education, and versatility make them the custodians of a timeless legacy that transcends borders and generations.
