New Delhi: Tamil “nation”, or merely the abode of the Tamils? That is now the topic of an intense political dialogue in Tamil Nadu, with the meeting witnessing a furore and Governor R.N.Ravi strolling out after refusing to learn a paragraph of his speech.
The controversy was triggered by Ravi’s suggestion that the state of Tamil Nadu ought to realistically be referred to as ‘Tamzihagam’.
Tamil Nadu initially means Tamil ‘land’, now additionally learn as ‘Tamil nation’. ‘Tamizhagam’, then again, means the ‘abode’ or ‘land’ of the Tamil folks and was the title of the traditional Tamil nation.
At a programme in Raj Bhavan on 4 January, when the Governor claimed a “completely different form of narrative has been created” in Tamil Nadu.
“Every little thing relevant for the entire of the nation, Tamil Nadu will say no. It has change into a behavior. So many theses have been written — all false and poor fiction. This have to be damaged. Reality should prevail. Tamizhagam is a extra applicable phrase to name it. The remainder of the nation suffered numerous devastation by the hands of foreigners for a very long time,” he mentioned in his speech.
Though the remarks have been condemned by Dravidian events such because the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP) state unit has come out in assist of it.
Opposing the governor’s suggestion, DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi mentioned that the title of the state is linked to the Tamil language, custom, politics, and life itself.
Explaining why Tamil Nadu can’t be referred to as ‘Tamizhagam’, Communist Occasion of India (CPI) normal secretary D. Raja identified that Tamil is spoken not simply within the state but additionally neighbouring nations like Sri Lanka. As well as, it’s really one of many official languages in Singapore.
“It’s broadly spoken in Malaysia and even in some elements of Vietnam,” he mentioned.
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Why the talk?
On the centre of the talk is the studying, or misreading, of the phrase ‘Nadu’. Tamil Nadu actually interprets into the ‘Tamil land’.
However a misreading of the phrase and the complexities of translation has meant that the phrase now additionally reads as “nation”.
Then again, Tamizhagam, additionally spelled as Tamilakam, means the abode of the Tamil folks. Outlined within the Sangam literature as the realm south of present-day Chennai, Tamilakam, or the traditional Tamil nation, consists of the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry.
CPI’s Raja, who’s from the state, mentioned Governor Ravi wasn’t from the state and he didn’t perceive its historical past.
Raja, who was born in 1949 within the erstwhile state of Madras, recollects how calls for for a reputation change saved arising periodically until the DMK underneath C.N. Annadurai got here to energy in 1967.
“Once I was a schoolboy and even in faculty, it was referred to as Madras. Calls for had sometimes been made for a renaming, together with one among our personal (CPI) leaders P. Jeevanandham. Nevertheless it was after the DMK got here to energy and when Annadurai was the CM that the state Meeting handed the laws for renaming the state,” he informed ThePrint.
Chaos at TN Meeting
On Monday, slogans from the opposition lease the air as Ravi started his tackle within the Tamil Nadu Meeting in its first session of the 12 months.
The chaos escalated after Ravi skipped some sections of his speech which had references to Dravidar Kazhagam founder Periyar, father of the Indian Structure B. R. Ambedkar, former chief ministers Ok. Kamaraj and C. N. Annadurai.
As Chief Minister M.Ok. Stalin requested for the unique speech ready by the federal government to be retained, Ravi walked out of the state Meeting.
Sources near Ravi informed ThePrint that the governor had obtained the ultimate speech from the state authorities on 5 January and had said his objections to it on 7 January.
The elements that have been not noted have been achieved so for a motive, the sources mentioned, including that the elements that the governor not noted have been most praises of the state authorities and never “factual particulars”.
In response to the sources, one part that was not noted learn: ‘This authorities will proceed to march in valour and vigour (the) Dravidian mannequin of presidency.” Sources mentioned the part was not noted as a result of it was for the CM to reward the “Dravidian mannequin”, not the manager head of state.
One other part that was not noted learn: “This state continues to be (a) heaven of peace and tranquility & free from any violence”. “‘Heaven of peace’ isn’t floor actuality when information channels are reporting legislation and order points within the state daily,” the supply mentioned.
One other expunged half mentioned that Tamil Nadu fishermen in jailed Sri Lanka “have been launched solely by efforts of the state authorities”. Right here, the supply mentioned, the governor objected to the phrase “solely” and wished “state and union authorities” to be added.
One other “error” that the governor’s workplace identified was a line that learn “TN stands to draw highest FDI than another states in India in previous 1.5 years”. “The reality is that over the past 1.5 years, Tamil Nadu solely attracted $2.5 billion whereas Maharashtra obtained $28 billion and Karnataka $25 billion,” the supply mentioned.
Sources within the Raj Bhavan informed ThePrint that what occurred within the meeting Monday reveals that the speaker couldn’t act independently.
“The speaker was a mere spectator when members of meeting gheraoed (the governor) and raised slogans,” a supply mentioned. “After the governor’s and speaker’s speech, the nationwide anthem must be performed and the session must be prorogued. The CM’s speech was not a part of the conference and guidelines. Altering the speech of the manager head of state is a matter of great dialogue by authorized specialists,” the supply mentioned.
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva informed ThePrint that in observe, the governor’s tackle is supposed to be a readout of the insurance policies of the state authorities.
“How can he refuse to learn part of the speech after he had accredited it? This doesn’t behove the democratic traditions of India and nor does it converse nicely of the ethical aptitude of the governor,” the DMK MP mentioned.
The journey from ‘Madras’ to ‘Tamil Nadu’
The demand for the renaming of Madras had been raised many instances within the meeting. Nevertheless it took an Annadurai to level out that renaming Tamil Nadu “wouldn’t smash Indian nationalism”, CPI’s Raja mentioned.
Within the Nineteen Sixties, when CPI’s Bhupesh Gupta moved a Invoice in Parliament to alter the title of the state, he was supported by Annadurai at the same time as some members, together with these from the Congress, cited “historic causes” to oppose the transfer.
The title change lastly got here by way of on 14 January 1969 — months earlier than the demise of Annadurai who grew to become the final chief minister of the state of Madras and the primary CM of the state of Tamil Nadu.
DMK MP Siva mentioned that Annadurai raised the problem in Parliament when he was a member. “He had raised it as a non-public members’ decision however was informed that it’s a matter that must be cleared by the state Meeting. That’s what was achieved, and due course of was adopted when the title was modified,” he mentioned.
Governor Ravi, he mentioned, shouldn’t wade into topics which might be “clearly not his remit”. “Is it the responsibility of the governor to speak in regards to the cultures and traditions of a state the place he’s solely briefly posted? His responsibility is to fulfil his Constitutional obligations,” the DMK MP added.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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