In Search of a New Tamil Identity

                                          Photos: Courtesy, On Manorama, Thiruvanthapuram

If the conviction of Jaya is taken as a victory for rule of law, then the reactions that followed seem to viciously demand a different definition of democracy. Though it looks apparently comical, it does not fail to sadly indicate the level of decadence the polity and culture in Tamilnadu have undergone. There is not a single political party who could raise its voice in a credible manner.

 DMK is too worried about the writings on the wall; PMK with its higher decibel is not effectively heard beyond its constituency; DMDK is too muffled or muddled about what it says; MDMK is high pitched but hollow; Congrees has gone on vacation; other parties if any do not matter. Jaya episode has proved one thing- no party in Tamilnadu is strong enough to provide any direction during the hour of the crisis. Apart from this, there is no independent voice coming from the so called civil society or independent public intellectuals of stature.

 In the virtual absence of opposition, AIADMK is happily continuing with its jingoism saying “Innocent Amma is victimized by the Karnataka judge and she must be released soon.” What started as a psychopathic denial of reality (people carrying and displaying boxes of laddus in front of the Parapana Agrahara court anticipating victory for venerable Amma) was then followed by shock, melodrama, mass hysteria and suicides. The mass hysteria and unreason is again and again whipped up to go in fresh spirals. The hope is that a new truth can be established in the public conscience and pressure brought on the courts to view the case leniently. It also aims to intimidate and silence everyone. The official machinery particularly the police, is brought into serve the interest of the party. If left uncontested, Tamilnadu is bound to institutionalize a new meaning for democracy.

Corruption is everywhere.  Perhaps Om Prakash Chauthala and Lallu Prasad Yadav might have already played John the Baptist to Amma. Yet, they all belong to the Aryan North. What inspired them could not have inspired our Dravidian leaders with Tamil pattru and maanam (Tamil patriotism and honor). Neither are our adulation of leaders and ready servitude quite comparable to Haryanites and Biharis.

The Dravidian politics after all went into liberating the Tamil Makkal (Tamil People) from Aryan linguistic and cultural hegemony and secure them urimai (freedom) thanmaanam (self respect) and munnettam (progress). In realizing this mission, they agreed to democratically work through the Indian constitutional process after initial secessionist posturing through the call for thani Dravidanadu (separate Dravidanadu) till mid1960s.

If we claim today (which we involuntarily do in all awaken moments) that thanmaana thamizhan (self respecting Tamil) has already arrived recovering his long suppressed cultural identity intact and with all its adornment and intellectual vigor, one question still begs. Has the newly acquired politico-cultural identity as tamizhan or tamizhachi equipped one to live in a modern democracy as a poruppulla kudimahan/mahazh (responsible citizen)?

 If the answer is no, then it is not enough we criticize what is happening before us and stop. We have come to a point where we are asked to review and re-define our Tamil identity to incorporate a democratic world view- not to fight the Arya Mayaii (Aryan Illussion) alone but the Dravida Mayaii (Dravidan Illussion) too. Have we not gone round the full circle?

Chinnaraj Joseph/04.10.2014