Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker Appavu, who has previously expressed support for Christianity and made derogatory remarks about the Hindu religion, has once again made divisive comments about Sanatana Dharma/Hinduism. During his speech at the Golden Jubilee program of the Palayankottai Diocese, he alleged that Sanatana Dharma had deprived 96% of Hindus in Tamil Nadu of education.
Appavu, the speaker, asserted, “Sanathanam implies that only 4% of the population is entitled to education, while the rest are destined to be subservient. This constitutes its underlying doctrine. If it hadn’t been for Lord Macaulay’s arrival in 1835 and the subsequent passage of the Education Act, we would not have had access to education. Institutions like Xavier College and Xavier School, where we are currently gathered, would not have had a presence if the British had not passed laws in 1795 that allowed everyone to acquire land.”
He added, “Looking back 111 years to 1912, the region comprising Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and a part of Odisha was home to languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Tulu. At that time, a staggering 94 out of every 100 graduates belonged to the same community, with 4% accounting for 94% of all graduates, while the remaining 96% held only a 6% share of the degrees. This reflects the prevailing education system and social conditions of that era.”
He further said, “125 years ago, individuals traveling from South Tamil Nadu to Chennai for education faced discrimination and were not permitted to eat or stay at establishments like Mysore Cafe. Those journeying from the southern districts in need of accommodation were predominantly part of the 96% Hindu population who were denied education and the right to stay in hostels. It was during this time that the South Indian Welfare Rights Association was established, leading to the establishment of hostels by the YMCA in many places in Chennai, thereby providing much-needed accommodation for students.”
Appavu went on to say, “Some now refer to the policies of Sir Vaikunder as “Sanatanam.” Sir Vaikunder, originally known as Mudisoodum Perumal, was a prominent figure who vehemently opposed Sanatana Dharma, the caste system, and oppression over 200 years ago. He was given the name Muthukutty by the Maharaja of Travancore, who argued that being born in Izhikulam made it inappropriate for him to carry the name Perumal. It was this Muthukutty who became Vaikundar, an important historical figure. Vaikunder advocated for equality among all individuals and discouraged idol worship, as he believed it unnecessary, suggesting that people from the privileged 4% would predominantly engage in such practices. He emphasized that one’s conscience should be their guide, all while identifying himself as a Hindu. His relative, Narayana Guru, also faced discrimination and was denied the right to walk on Somanathar Temple Street in Vaikam.”
“The oppression faced by individuals like Sir Vaikunder and Narayana Guru was so severe that even walking on that street, let alone entering the temple, was forbidden. The efforts of individuals like Periyar and Kamaraj, who fought against this discrimination, helped to pave the way for progress. Today, Tamil Nadu has made significant strides in education, economics, and development, largely due to the contributions of Christian preachers who came to serve the entire community,” Speaker Appavu highlighted.
In this situation, Nellai district secretary of Hindu Munnani CS Vimal has filed a complaint with Palayamkottai police demanding action against Speaker Appavu for denigrating Hindu religion in a Christian meeting.
In their complaint, Hindu Munnani said, “On the 10th of September 2023, during a speech at the Palayankota Xavier College grounds as part of the Balayankot District Golden Jubilee ceremony, Tamil Nadu Speaker Appavu made remarks suggesting that the denial of education to 96% of Hindus was synonymous with “Sanathanam.” He insinuated that this term implied that only 4% of the population was entitled to an education while the rest were relegated to a status akin to slavery. This speech, delivered in a gathering predominantly attended by Christians, was seen by some as an attempt to disrupt law and order and sow discord and religious animosity, particularly against Hinduism.”
The complaint added, “In the wake of the speaker’s speech, certain Islamic organizations have also taken to social media platforms to express disparaging views about Hinduism, amplifying the divisive sentiments further. As a result, many Hindus, including myself, have been deeply hurt by the offensive remarks made by Speaker Appavu during his address to a Christian audience. It is disconcerting that such derogatory comments about Hinduism were made at a gathering of another faith community.”
The complaint ended by urging, “I kindly urge you to initiate the necessary legal proceedings aimed at fostering peace and justice in response to Speaker Appa’s remarks, which were delivered in a manner that could potentially incite religious animosity.”
(with inputs from Hindu Tamil)
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