News Tamil Nadu

DMK, Congress Suffer Meltdown Over TN Governor RN Ravi Asking Students To Chant “Jai Sri Ram” At Event Marking Tamil Poet Kambar, TNM’s Dhanya Rajendran Calls For Abolishing Governor Post

April 13, 2025
The Commune

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi stirred a heated controversy at Thiagarajar College in Madurai on April 12 during a literary event honoring Tamil poet Kambar. As chief guest at the valedictory function of a speech competition titled “Kamban in the Educational Arena,” Ravi invited students to chant “Jai Sri Ram” as a tribute to Kambar’s devotion to Lord Ram, the central figure of his epic Kamba Ramayanam. “Let us pay tribute to Kambar by paying tribute to the one he was a great devotee of, Prabhu Sri Ram. I’ll say, and you say Jai Sri Ram!” Ravi exclaimed, eliciting enthusiastic responses from many students in attendance.

The gesture, however, has triggered a firestorm of criticism from the Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and the leftist-Dravidianist outlet The News Minute, who have branded it a violation of secular principles. The State Platform for Common School System – Tamil Nadu (SPCSS), prominently featured in The News Minute’s coverage, demanded Ravi’s immediate removal as Governor, accusing him of breaching his oath of office by “urging students to chant the name of a God of a particular religion.” SPCSS emphasized that Thiagarajar College, a government-aided institution, is bound by secular educational norms, and Ravi, invited in his official capacity, had no mandate to introduce religious elements. “Education is a secular activity… students should not be instructed to chant the name of a God of a particular religion,” their statement read, claiming students complied “passively” to avoid embarrassment.

SPCSS further criticized Ravi for lacking understanding of Tamil Nadu’s academic framework, where Kamba Ramayanam is taught as literature, not scripture. They accused him of making “misguiding statements” that could “disturb peace and instigate one group against another,” while noting that the same event allowed extra time for a speech on Kamba Ramayanam by Comrade Jeevanandam, which they framed as evidence of the syllabus’s secular approach.

Congress MP Sashikanth Senthil amplified the outrage on X, accusing Ravi of resorting to “stunts” out of frustration after legal and political setbacks. “After being slammed by the Supreme Court and blocked by the State Government, he’s now making students chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ just to irritate the system,” Senthil posted. He called it a “dangerous mix of arrogance and defiance” that undermines democratic institutions and constitutional principles, framing the chant as a deliberate provocation rather than a cultural gesture.

The DMK, Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, joined the chorus of condemnation. DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai issued a scathing statement, calling Ravi’s actions “an affront to Tamil Nadu’s pluralistic ethos.” “The Governor is not a religious preacher but a constitutional figurehead. By coaxing students to chant slogans tied to one faith, he is sowing division in a state that prides itself on harmony,” Annadurai said. He further accused Ravi of “pandering to divisive forces” and demanded an apology, adding, “Tamil Nadu’s people study Kambar for his literary genius, not to be dragged into the BJP’s ideological battles.”

The News Minute’s Editor-in-Chief Dhanya Rajendran like a DMK spokesperson called for abolishing the Governor post.

Supporters of the Governor, however, argue the backlash is overblown and politically motivated. They contend that Kamba Ramayanam, the focus of the event, is inseparable from its devotion to Lord Ram, making the chant a fitting tribute to Kambar’s legacy. Social media reactions on X have highlighted the inconsistency of SPCSS praising Jeevanandam’s speech on Kamba Ramayanam while condemning Ravi’s reference to Ram. Others note that Tamil Nadu’s curriculum embraces diverse religious texts—from Saivite hymns to Christian poetry—without controversy, questioning why a chant rooted in Kambar’s work should spark such outrage. “Kambar’s Ram is Tamil Nadu’s pride. Why is celebrating him a crime?” one X user posted.

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