In a fiery, wide-ranging speech delivered on Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi’s birth anniversary, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief Seeman made a bold historical claim, asserting that it was the revered poet Bharathiyar, and not former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai (“Anna”), who named the state of Tamil Nadu.
The speech, laden with sharp political and cultural commentary, directly contrasted Bharathiyar’s poetic reverence for the Tamil language with the historical criticisms of Dravidian stalwart ‘Periyar’ EV Ramasamy Naicker (EVR).
Crediting the “Poet Who Created Time”
“These people didn’t name it Tamil Nadu,” Seeman told the audience. “India hadn’t gained independence; he achieved it. States weren’t divided; he divided them. They hadn’t named it Tamil Nadu; he named it.” Framing Bharathiyar as a visionary figure, Seeman asked rhetorically, “Therefore, who is he? The poet who created time. The seer. The avatar. He is the one man in the world.”
Seeman supported his argument by quoting Bharathiyar’s own verses exalting the Tamil language and land. He recited, “Among the languages we know, the Tamil language is the sweetest, nowhere to be seen” and “Worship the auspicious Tamil country as our mother, Paapa (child), it is sweeter than nectar, Paapa. It is the land of our wise ancestors (aanrōrgal), Paapa.”
Direct Contrast with EVR’s Stance
The NTK leader used these quotes to launch a pointed attack on Periyar’s historical views. He juxtaposed Bharathiyar’s praise with EVR’s characterization of Tamil. “He (EVR) calls it a barbarian language. He calls it the land where barbarians live,” Seeman said. “But he (Bharathi) says, ‘It is the land of wise ancestors, Paapa. The word that is high is the Tamil (uyarcchol); bow to it and read it, Paapa.'”
Seeman challenged the audience to consider this contrast: “Who is he? Who is that man? He is not a barbarian. Is this man a barbarian?”
Seeman recounted Bharathi’s writings: “Go to Ceylon, Burma, Java, and many islands, and see our fish flag and tiger flag standing firm”, and asked rhetorically, “Who is he? Who is that man? He is not a barbarian. Is this man a barbarian?”
He continued that the naming of Tamil Nadu preceded independence-era politics. “You shouldn’t name the auspicious Tamil Nadu as ‘Tamil Nadu,’ brother. Pay close attention. These people didn’t name it Tamil Nadu. India hadn’t gained independence; he (Bharathi) achieved it. States weren’t divided; he (Bharathi) divided them. They hadn’t named it Tamil Nadu; he named it already,” Seeman said, describing Bharathi as “the poet who created time,” “the seer,” and “the avatar.”
Seeman continued, “He (Bharathi) is the one man in the world. He decides. He didn’t know that Sankara Linganar will come. He will fight for 79 days. He will die. Then the great man Arignar Anna will come. He will name it Tamil Nadu. Without knowing all that, he did it.” He intended to mean that Bharathiyar had already conceived the identity conceptually.
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