News Tamil Nadu

Dravidian Model: Report Says Over 200 Police Detain “Motivational Speaker” Mahavishnu At Chennai Airport Following His Speech On Karma And Rebirth To Govt School Students

September 7, 2024
The Commune

Motivational speaker and self-styled spiritual guru Mahavishnu was detained by police in Chennai following complaints filed at the Saidapet and Tiruvottiyur police stations. The controversy erupted after Mahavishnu allegedly made offensive remarks about differently-abled individuals during a speech at a government school.

On 7 September 2024, a significant number of police was deployed at Chennai airport to apprehend Mahavishnu upon his arrival from Australia.

Since the video went viral on 6 September 2024, the DMK urged the police to intensify their investigation. The Avinashi police, along with intelligence officers, conducted an inquiry at the head office of the Paramporul Foundation located in Kulathupalayam, near Avinashi in Tirupur District. The investigation revealed that the Paramporul Foundation has branches in several countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Sydney, Australia, with its headquarters in Tamil Nadu.

It was also discovered that Mahavishnu was in Sydney for a training course. The investigation examined various aspects, including Mahavishnu’s birthplace, background, income sources, donation details for the foundation, and the nature of the foundation’s activities. Additionally, inquiries are ongoing regarding the schools where Mahavishnu has delivered speeches and the topics he has covered.

While some news outlets reported that Mahavishnu had gone into hiding due to the police investigation, he later clarified through a social media video that he is in Australia for a discourse and plans to return to Tamil Nadu to address the case against him, despite having another scheduled program.

Background – Mahavishnu

Mahavishnu, a motivational speaker from the Paramporul Foundation, was invited to talk in the Ashok Nagar and Saidapet area government schools. During his speech, Mahavishnu stated that ancient Indian education systems, like Gurukulams, were destroyed by British rule, leading to the loss of powerful knowledge once written on palm leaves (olaichuvadu). He asserted that reciting specific mantras could heal bodies, cause “rain of fire,” or enable one to fly, alluding to mystical powers lost over time. He then stated that social inequalities and people’s circumstances whether rich, poor, criminal, or heroic were the result of actions in their previous lives.

A school staff member objected to the content of Mahavishnu’s speech, pointing out that the speaker was invited for a motivational talk, not a spiritual discourse. This led to a heated argument, with Mahavishnu questioning the teacher how a child will live a proper life without knowledge about past life karma. A video of the incident, later uploaded to Mahavishnu’s YouTube channel, went viral, triggering widespread criticism among Dravidianists.

Students’ reactions to the speech also raised alarms. Some reportedly broke down in tears, with one student stating, “We were thinking that there is someone above us. But now I understand that God is within us.” Another student commented, “I realized that beyond basic education, there is something beyond the reach of knowledge.” These statements have heightened concerns over the speaker’s influence on impressionable young minds.

Critics argue that while motivational speeches in schools are meant to inspire students, they should promote a scientific outlook and not delve into religious or spiritual doctrines. Social activists and education advocates have called for stricter oversight in government schools to ensure such events do not compromise the core values of the educational system.

Politicians and Dravidianists condemned the school administration for allowing such sensitive topics to be addressed before children.

DMK School Education Minister Threatens Mahavishnu

DMK School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh visited the school to investigate the matter. After reviewing the situation, he addressed the press and issued a warning, announcing that severe action would be taken against the speaker involved. Speaking to the press, the DMK minister stated that an investigation into the matter is underway. He emphasized that within two to three days, appropriate action will be taken. Currently, the inquiry is focused on determining whether the fault lies with the school headmistress or the departmental officials.

When reporters asked how the minister planned to address the motivational speaker Mahavishnu’s claim that no laws prohibit him from delivering spiritual talks in schools, the minister did not respond directly. Instead, he shifted the focus and began praising the teacher who had halted the speaker’s discourse during Teacher’s Day. The minister stated that, regardless of whether the teacher files a complaint or not, action will be taken based on the video of the confrontation between the speaker and the schoolteacher.

Anbil Mahesh took the issue personally and remarked, “You came to my area, spoke, and left, you have insulted my teachers. So, I’m stressing at this point that I will not let you off lightly.” 

Action Taken by Dravidian Model Government

In the wake of the controversy over Maha Vishnu’s motivational speech, the School Education Ministry ordered the transfer of Headmistress, Tamilarasi, of Ashok Nagar Government Girls Higher Secondary School to Kolvil Padhagai Government School in the Tiruvallur District on 6 September 2024. This decision prompted protests from teachers in reaction to the transfer.

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