Title: Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Counters Governor’s Remarks on Dravidianism
Subtitle: Governor RN Ravi’s Remarks Met with Strong Rebuke from Tamil Nadu Government
Chennai, Tamil Nadu – In a recent statement, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thannarasu dismissed Governor RN Ravi’s ongoing criticism of the Dravidian movement, stating that the government is not concerned about his daily lamentations. Thannarasu emphasized that the people of Tamil Nadu, as the ‘brothers and sisters of the artist Anna’, wholeheartedly support the ideals of the Dravidian movement.
Governor R.N. Ravi has been actively involved in various activities concerning the state, except for the proper approval of bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly,” said Thannarasu, referring to Ravi’s failure to approve the bills. Thannarasu added that the people of Tamil Nadu are well aware of Ravi’s actions, including his daily research on topics such as the accuracy of Tirukkural translation and the order of Vallalar song.
Ravi’s continuous criticism of Dravidianism and Dravidians has caused resentment among the people. Speaking at an event where he released a book by Deenadayal Upadhyay, a former leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Ravi reiterated his belief that talk about Dravidianism reflects division. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin has demanded a detailed explanation from Ravi on how discussing Dravidianism leads to division.
The term ‘Dravidian’ has evolved from being just a place name, a race name, and a language name, to now being associated with a political theory. This is what Chief Minister Stalin has been stressing, tracing the development of the Dravidian political ideology over the past century. Notable figures such as Ayodhitasa, Sir Pt. Thiagarayar, Dr. Natesanar, Father Periyar, Dumpamalai Srinivasan, M.C. Raja, Perarinar Anna, Bavendra Bharathidasan, and Karunanidhi all played crucial roles in shaping the Dravidian movement.
Ayodhya, who referred to the people as ‘casteless Dravidians’, was among the early supporters of the Dravidian ideology. Linguists argue that Tamil was mistakenly called ‘Diramila’ by those who struggled to pronounce it correctly. Father Periyar used the terms Tamil and Dravidian as separate words with the same meaning to address this mischaracterization. The core principles of the Dravidian movement include self-respect, social justice, linguistic independence, ethnic rights, state autonomy, and federalism in India.
Chief Minister Stalin has adopted and implemented these principles as the foundation for his governance. Under his leadership, the state aims to provide equal opportunities for all. Contrary to claims of division, all laws and schemes devised under the Dravidian governance model are designed to benefit everyone, without discrimination.
Ravi’s persistent criticism of the Dravidian movement and his negative view of the term ‘Dravidian’ have drawn severe backlash. The movement has been instrumental in the growth, recovery, and prosperity of Tamil Nadu for the last century. Efforts to erase or change the names associated with Tamil Nadu or the Dravidian movement are met with strong resistance.
Critics argue that Ravi’s actions and remarks lack constructiveness. Instead of focusing on developmental efforts, he continuously raises issues that confuse the political landscape. Furthermore, they accuse him of turning the Governor’s House into a platform for the propagation of Sanatana and Varnasiram ideologies.
“We consider the governor’s presence as a propaganda tool. Chief Minister Stalin believes that progress can only be achieved if the governor remains in his position. We express our gratitude to the governor for consistently promoting the principles and ideals of the Dravidian movement among the people of Tamil Nadu,” Thannarasu concluded.
As the debate on the Dravidian movement and its significance continues, Governor RN Ravi’s confrontational stance puts him at odds with the state government, which remains steadfast in its support of the movement’s legacy.