Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief Seeman stirred controversy with his blasting comments on Dravidianist ideologue EV Ramasamy Naicker (EVR), hailed as Periyar by his followers. Seeman mocked EVR’s controversial actions during the independence movement, challenging the rationality behind his decisions. He further criticized EVR for what he described as an anti-Tamil mindset.
Following the press conference, several Dravidianists demanded proof for all the statements made. Seeman once again met with press reporters and attacked EVR once again.
When asked about the demand for proof of his claims on EV Ramasamy Naicker, Seeman questioned, “You recently made Karunanidhi’s work a government property. There are so many writers, you have made all their works government properties. Why have you not made the works of Periyar as public property and make it government property? You keep all the proof and ask me for it, how is that right? Make it accessible to the public and I will peel an onion. We will come to know that both are the same.”
When counter-questioned that he was the B team of BJP and was propagating the same words used by them, Seeman said, “We are BJP’s B team. In the Viduthalai publication on his birthday, it was titled “My birthday message” It was written, “Brahmins are lower than us (in caste). Mohammedans and Christians are our enemies. These groups are against us.” What does he mean by us? Brahmins are enemies, lower caste than us, who is that? There should be none below us, we must raise him up, there should be no higher/lower. Isn’t that your principle – equality? Isn’t this how a society progresses? If you say, someone lower than us, Christians, Muslims are our enemies, then what about our race? What is that race? Is there a worse untouchability perspective than this? Who is below you? Ambedkar said I am no one’s slave nor am I lower than anyone, this doesn’t sound like that. Are you referring to those who believe in Dravidianism and those Muslims and Christians who believe in it? How can you accept calling them enemies? How can you accept the statement that jobs are reducing because Muslims and Christians became educated? How do you see when he said that “reservation given to “Thulukkans” (Muslims) fearing Brahmins, we have put our foot in sh*t instead of cow dung“, you did not ask for proof for that?
He further said, “Why did you not ask for proof when he said, “Those who speak about Tamilians, Tamil, Tamil Nadu government are fraudulent people.” If speaking about Tamilians is racist and hateful, who is the enemy? If we speak about Tamilians, which race is getting offended, which race are we against? If you say they are against the Dravidian race, who is the Dravidian? Is there a separate race called Dravidian among Tamils? Why did you not ask proof for this? You ask, “That Tamil Mother (Tamizh Thaai) who has been there for 3000 years, did she educate you? So are you trying to say that over these 3000 years, without education did Valluvar, Kambar, Kapilan, Elango, and Avvaiyar sprout out of nowhere? All the literature and epics came out of nowhere, Valluvar gave us the world’s best life skills, and the whole world is celebrating him, you called it “faeces” – did all this appear without education? Are the 63 Nayanmars, the Alwars all waste? You call Bhakti literature garbage. You call Valluvar, and Kambar as fools and all others as enemies, you are saying we never studied. Bharathiyar says, “Tamil Nadu is the best place for education, Tamil Nadu is the birthplace of Kamban” – which is right? He also says “Tamil Nadu, where Valluvan made himself famous worldwide, No one on earth has ever been born like Kamban, like Valluvan, like Ilango, among the poets who are known.” He says this is truth, not praise.”
He further added, “Can there be a worse contradiction than comparing Ambedkar and Periyar? If you keep both statues together, can it become one? Are their philosophies the same? Ambedkar is the best educator and the best theoretician in the world, what about Periyar? He speaks whatever he wants. Ambedkar preached universal thoughts. Whatever Periyar thought, spoke, and wrote was against the Tamil race. He called Tamil “Saniyan”, a barbaric language. So what language did he write and speak in? In this “saniyan” language only, right? What principle is more convincing? Release all the proofs, we will show you. You only spoke about Dravidianism, you hid us, and you crushed my ancestors. This is the time for Prabhakaran’s children, no one can oppose him be it politically or based on opinion. You have no answer for any question.”
He further said, “Both Brahmins and Muslims are enemies. You are connecting me to RSS and BJP, he said Muslims are from another country! This is what the BJP and RSS are saying. We call them our race. You say Muslims and Christians are enemies, so what are you? They are people of this land. They have Tamil as their mother tongue and are indigenous to this land. Because they could not face the injustice meted out due to the caste system, they chose another religion. Do you not know that? You call the reservation given to them as wrong.”
Further, he said, “Language is the base for art, literature, culture, worship, history, science, politics – language gives everything, not just for me but the world over. Can you deny that? If there is no language, then from where will you do societal correction and such? Make all of Periyar’s writings government properties, I will give you a proof.”
Responding to a question on why he talks about Periyar, Seeman asked “What social justice did you achieve more than Vallalar Vaikuntar? I made a mistake calling him my grandfather, now he is my “petha“. As I read, I am getting clearer on who he was, as my race was massacred, I came to realize that these fellows were against me. I realized that the Dravidian was a thief in 2008/9/10. Until I met my leader in 2008, I was also a part of this gang. Only after that meeting, I realized who a Tamilian is and what is Tamil nationalism.
What has this Dravidianism achieved? Do you mean to say Singaravelar, Seevanandam, Ayodidasapandithar, Rettamalai Sreenivasan, KAP Vishwanathan, Mutamizh Kavalar, Annal Thangam, Maraimalai Adigal, Muthuramalinga Thevar, Kamarajar, Kakkan, VOC did not do anything? Only this man did?”
Scratching on the most contentious topic of his marriage with Maniammai, Seeman began, “Periyar had great wealth, he was looking for an heir to that wealth. So, at the age of 72, he got married to a 26-year-old woman. Compare this to VOC, he comes from a lineage of advocates. For an appearance, they’d earn thousands of rupees. He was a wealthy man, he sold everything and spent that money for the country’s independence, he captained a ship to keep the Indian pride high, Kappalottiya Tamizhan, he worked in the oil mill as punishment for fighting for independence and lived in penury in the later stages of life. His son did not have a job and was in dire need of one, so he wrote to Periyar for help to get a police job. That letter is framed and placed in his house, are you trying to shame me for what VOC did? Have you done better for the country than VOC, he spent his wealth for the country, but you looked for an heir to take care of your wealth. He was a fighter; you are a landlord.”
Responding to a reporter on what his party philosophy is, Seeman said, “I will eradicate all those who speak about Dravidianism. My philosophy is to cut off the roots of Dravidianism that is Periyar.”
When asked if he was “diverting” the issues regarding the Governor by speaking about Periyar, Seeman lashed out saying, “All of you speaking for Periyar, feminist Periyarists, the ones asking for proofs, did not open your mouths for what happened with the girl in Anna University. Are you conducting any protests about appointing VCs? It is us who is doing it. You are the ones diverting the issues.”
Speaking about the word “Dravidam“, he said, “Caldwell said he took the word from Manu Smriti. You are now using a Sanskrit word and saying you are opposing them?”
He further said, “That is why I want to remove Tamizh Thaai Vaazhthu which has this word. And I will replace it with Puratchi Pavalar’s poem. I will do this when I become CM”.
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