Surya Xavier, the recipient of the 2021 Tamil Nadu DMK Government’s “Sollin Selvar” literary award, announced that his ‘research’ on Thirupparankundram has been published recently.
The book titled “Thirupparankundram – A Comprehensive Historical Study”, Xavier claims offers an ‘extensive examination’ of the history, archaeology, religion, and politics associated with the Thirupparankundram hill near Madurai.
He stated that the book was researched and written over an intensive 25-day period, making one wonder about the quality of the research.
The 175-page book, Xavier stated, contains 13 core chapters. The chapters are said to deal with themes including the geological formation of the Thirupparankundram hill, early human habitation in the region, Madurai’s political history, worship traditions at Thirupparankundram, the evolution of dargahs, the history of Sikandar Dargah, Karthigai Deepam, regional and global historical timelines, the history of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, concepts of religious harmony, Sanatana traditions, and the intersections of religion, politics, and secularism.
The book has been published by Bharathi Puthakalayam. While the cover price is ₹300, the book is being sold at a subsidised price of ₹200 following the author’s request to make it more widely accessible.
The book, reportedly, will also be available at the Chennai Book Fair.
அன்பான வணக்கம்.
மிகக்குறுகிய கால அவகாசத்தில், 25 நாள், இரவு பகல் பாராமல் படித்து, ஆய்வு செய்து “திருப்பரங்குன்றம்- முழு வரலாற்று ஆய்வு ” எனும் நூலை, தமிழ்நாட்டு மக்கள் படித்திட வேண்டுமென முயற்சித்துள்ளேன்.இந்நூலை முழுமையாகப் படித்து, மிகச்சிறப்பான ஒரு அணித்துரையை, தமிழ்நாடு… pic.twitter.com/StVgYYpHRF
— Surya Xavier (@suryaxavier1) January 6, 2026
Attempt To Secularise Thirupparankundram?
The publication of the book comes amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Thirupparankundram Karthigai Deepam, in which the DMK government has declined to implement repeated court directions relating to the conduct of the festival.
Despite a two-judge bench of the Madras High Court reaffirming the earlier order, the state government has stated that it intends to challenge the ruling before the Supreme Court. The matter remains sub judice, with the High Court’s directions continuing to hold the field unless stayed or set aside by the apex court.
In this backdrop, several publications (such as the above) and public interventions claiming to present historical or research-based narratives on Thirupparankundram have emerged in a short span of time. These works place emphasis on secularism, religious harmony, and the reframing of long-established worship traditions, even as the religious character and customary practices associated with the site are under active judicial consideration.
The release and promotion of such books at prominent public platforms, including the Chennai Book Fair, seems to be a coordinated effort within the Dravidianist ecosystem to reinterpret and secularise the holy abode Thirupparankundram through cultural and literary narratives, parallel to the ongoing legal and administrative contestation surrounding the site.
Who Is Surya Xavier?
In January 2025, he made a social media post targeting the Brahmin community and Indian Institute of Technology Madras Director V Kamakoti. The post came in response to comments made by IIT Madras Director, Prof. V Kamakoti, who had stated that cow urine (gaumutra) has medicinal properties and mentioned that in his village, it was traditionally consumed and mixed with panchakavyam for various purposes.
In the post he said, “Iyer Iyenkar Technology (IIT) – We don’t even need a pipe, we will just suck it by mouth.” He accompanied this comment with an image of a cow with a pipe inserted into its back. This post quickly attracted attention and sparked further debate, with many criticizing Xavier’s offensive remarks and the imagery used to target IIT Madras and its director, Prof. V Kamakoti.
Iyer Iyenkar Technology (IIT)
பைப் கூட தேவையில்லை
வாய வச்சே உறிஞ்சுவோம். pic.twitter.com/KLtpgIMbep— Surya Xavier (@suryaxavier1) January 21, 2025
A few years ago, he had called Brahmins as dogs and went on to abuse the then AIADMK Minister Ma Foi Pandiarajan.
“They had conspired to make Tamil Nadu as a hunting ground for Brahmin dogs. Ma Foi Pandiarajan is a dog who survives by licking. He is a Tamil Nadu Minister.”, Xavier had said.
தமிழக அரசின் தமிழ் வளர்ச்சித் துறை சொல்லின் செல்வர் விருது பெற்றுள்ள சூர்யா சேவியர்👇@Sevakofmata @roamingraman@HRajaBJP @SRSekharBJP@kesavaessar @SriRamya21 @ranganaathan @rajeshrao2111@elangovan_HM pic.twitter.com/PscIkHn8e5
— Omampuliyur Jayaraman (@omampuliyur) January 27, 2022
Xavier also referred to Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, originally from Bihar, as “Aryan” Ravi. He claimed that Ravi’s ancestors migrated from Afghanistan via the Khyber Pass and are now attempting to assert control over this region.
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