News Tamil Nadu

Savukku Shankar Says That Seeman Is Christian

April 5, 2024
The Commune

There is a debate raging on social media regarding the religious affiliation of Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief coordinator, Seeman. This controversy emerged from a recent show where the controversial political commentator Savukku Shankar discussed NTK’s performance in preparation for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The discussion quickly went viral, reigniting the longstanding dispute between online users and supporters of NTK.

Political commentator Savukku Shankar on his YouTube channel Savukku Media, in a conversation with hosts Abdul Muthaleef and Lenin, Savukku Shankar discussed things that revolved around Seeman who initially claimed to be a Marxist and atheist but later began praising Periyar and later identified himself with the Hindu Tamil community. Shankar expresses skepticism about this sudden change, pointing out Seeman’s previous attempts to conceal his religion. He also mentions Seeman’s past arrest during the DMK period and their involvement in legal proceedings as proof. Overall, the discussion highlights concerns about the Seeman shifting identity and potential exploitation of religious affiliations for personal gain. Here is a transcript of the conversation where they discuss Seeman.

Muthaleef: What is the problem here is, he had said in the beginning that he believed in Marxism and does not believe in God.
Shankar: Yes, how much has he spoken on the stage praising Periyar?
Muthaleef: He spoke, but hasn’t he proved that he has no faith in God? But now he suddenly (one day) wakes up and says I’m Tamil.
Shankar:  First, he tried to hide his religion, his on-record name is Simon, how am I so sure you ask? Remember he was arrested and jailed during the DMK rule in 2006? Do you remember they filed a case under Goondas Act? He was in Vellore prison, right? I and Pugazhendi filed a Habeas Corpus.

Shankar continued, “As we were analysing the case, I became aware of his religious background, he is a Christian. However, he’s now attempting to alter his identity by professing devotion to Murugan and such. Regardless of his religious affiliation, he’s exploiting it to his advantage, which is problematic.”

Is Seeman’s Alleged Christian Affiliation True?

It appears to be factually accurate based on Seeman’s past activities and the news reports confirming that he is Christian, and his name is Sebastian Seeman, not simply Seeman. The Hindu reported on two occasions: in 2009, Canadian immigration officials arrested and deported Tamil film director Sebastian Seeman for allegedly delivering inflammatory speeches coinciding with the birth anniversary of the LTTE chief, Velupillai Prabakaran. Another report elaborated on Sebastian Seeman’s path from advocating for Tamil Eezham to his involvement in current political party structures. In both articles, he is referred to as Sebastian Seeman, and it’s noteworthy that the name Sebastian is typically associated with Christians, as it originated from Saint Sebastian, a third-century pastor.

During an episode of the “Nerukku Ner” show on Sathyam TV, hosted by Mukthar Ahmed, Kalanjiyam, a director and the chief of Tamilar Nalan Periyakkam organization, who has a close association with Seeman and has actively participated in numerous election campaigns supporting Seeman, was invited as a guest. When questioned by the host Mukthar about Seeman and his family’s religious affiliation, Kalanjiyam confirmed that they are Christians, citing the family members’ names: James (brother), Sebastian (father), Annamal (mother), and highlighted that the entire family follows the Christian faith.

It is also mentioned on Wikipedia that Seeman’s brother is James Peter.

Seeman also faced allegations of selectively criticizing Sakthi Masala products for not printing in Tamil on their packaging while overlooking other brands like Aachi masala, allegedly due to Sakthi Masala being Hindu-owned and Aachi masala being Christian-owned, with Seeman himself being Christian. In the past, social media witnessed a stir when members of the Naam Tamilar Katchi and its IT wing advocated for a boycott of Sakthi Masala. The reason behind this call was the placement of Tamil text beneath English and Hindi on the masala packets. This move garnered attention due to suspicions that it was not merely a fringe activity of the party, but rather, it was perceived to serve an underlying agenda aimed at supporting Aachi Masala, Sakthi’s competitor. It’s being suggested that Aachi Masala has a history of endorsing individuals with anti-Hindu sentiments.

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