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Raj Bhavan Reviving Vaikasi Anusham As Thiruvalluvar Day Triggers Meltsdown Among DMK, ADMK, MDMK, Congress

The Commune

The Raj Bhavan in Tamil Nadu has once again delivered a significant meltdown to the Dravidian ecosystem by reviving the ancient tradition of celebrating the birth of the Tamil poet and saint Thiruvalluvar according to his birth nakshatra on the Tamil calendar. On 24 May 2024, Governor RN Ravi presided over the celebration of Thiruvalluvar’s birth anniversary, known as “Vaikasi Anusham Valluvar Thirunaal”. During the event, tributes were paid to Thiruvalluvar’s portrait, which was adorned with saffron clothes, holy ash, and kumkum on his forehead.

DMK – TKS Elangovan

Organisation Secretary of the DMK TKS Elangovan said, “Thiruvalluvar is a world poet. His sayings have a bearing on the entire world and people living everywhere. He (RN Ravi) is trying to insult the Tamilians by making a Thiruvalluvar in a saffron dress. The problem with the governor is that he intends to insult the Tamilians. By this act, Tamilians living across the world are insulted. This is what he intends today. He is from Bihar, a very backward state whereas Tamil Nadu is a developed state, the people of Tamil Nadu are equanimous, they treat everybody as equals. But Ravi does not want to treat everybody as equals. He is insulting Thiruvalluvar. He is insulting the entire Tamil community living the world over. And he is insulting the language and the culture of the Tamil Nadu. Later stated, “Governor is becoming a joker. Who said May 24 is Thiruvalluvar Day? very person in Tamil Nadu knows that Thiruvalluvar Day is January 15. If somebody decides to distort history to their benefit, then we strongly condemn it,”

MDMK – Vaiko

While MDMK General Secretary Vaiko speaking to the reporters after paying tribute to former MLC SP Adithanar in Chennai said, “This is condemnable. Thiruvalluvar is above caste and religion. He (Governor) is making Raj Bhavan a laughing stock… Let us wait till June 4. INDIA alliance will win (the elections)”

Tamil Nadu Congress – Selvaperunthagai

K Selvaperunthagai, the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, has expressed his strong condemnation of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi. This criticism arises from an invitation that featured a portrait of Thiruvalluvar adorned with saffron clothes, holy ash, and kumkum on his forehead. Selvaperunthagai shared his disapproval on his official X handle, stating that, “Thiruvalluvar’s photograph, owned by the state, independent of caste, creed, religion, was nationalized in 1991. Since then, the photo has been printed and used by everyone in the country. However, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi changed the photo of Thiruvalluvar approved by the government to the Governor’s House. It is illegal to publish photos based on caste, religion, religion. It is reprehensible for the governor who is responsible for upholding the law to do this. Regrettable.”

DMK Speaker – Appavu

DMK Speaker Appavu has went one step further and criticized the governor asking, “Thiruvalluvar’s photo in saffron is featured in the invitation issued by the Governor’s office. If we portray Governor with Kullah (Taqiyah – Muslim skull cap) and his wife with purdah will he accepts it? then we will also accept wearing saffron for Thiruvalluvar. If he doesn’t accept that, he shouldn’t do this either.”

 

AIADMK – Jayakumar

Former AIADMK Minister of Finance of Tamil Nadu D Jayakumar said, “There is nothing that is missing in Thirukkural. There is no caste, religion or race for Thiruvalluvar. Depicting such a person in saffron is certainly unacceptable. The governor has as many as a thousand works. What is the need to celebrate Thiruvalluvar Day now? In such a situation, this can only be seen as an act of humiliating Tamil race and Thiruvalluvar as a whole. The Governor’s action is highly condemnable and unacceptable.”

The Controversial Dravidian Thiruvalluvar Day

Archaeologist and historian like S Ramachandran providing background information, states that in 1966, the Congress government issued a Government Order declaring the day of saint Thiruvalluvar’s attainment of ‘Mukthi’ (salvation) as Thiruvalluvar Day. This day, known as Vaikasi Anusham, corresponds to a specific date in the Tamil month of Vaikasi, marked by the star Anusham. On 2 June 1966, Vaikasi Anusham was celebrated as Thiruvalluvar Day, with a statue of Thiruvalluvar unveiled by then-President S Radhakrishnan, in the presence of former Chief Minister M Bhakthavatsalam and Chennai Mayor M Moses, a member of the DMK.

However, in 1971, the DMK regime changed the observance to the second day of the Tamil month of Thai, which falls in January. Ramachandran also mentioned that the Thiruvalluvar temple in Mylapore, Chennai, where Governor Ravi recently offered prayers, dates back to the 14th century CE. In January 2024, Governor Ravi paid floral tributes to a portrait of Thiruvalluvar dressed in saffron attire, prompting Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to assert that no one could ‘stain’ the revered poet.

 

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