Chennai: Stopping short of calling Governor RN Ravi a 'Manuwadi', Chief Minister and ruling DMK president MK Stalin on Saturday said the Dravidian Model can't be comprehended by the arrogant, drunk with power and differentiating the people by their caste, and faith. It was a stinging rejoinder to the Governor, who had in a recent interview, debunked the Dravidian ideology and the Dravidian Model of governance, that Stalin prides in pursuing. As if waiting for the right opportunity, the Chief Minister chose the celebration of his government stepping into the third year in office, to take on Ravi, though refraining from any explicit reference to the gubernatorial occupant.
“Dravidian Model is understood by the knowledgeable people of Tamil Nadu, who voted the DMK to power in the hope of a new dawn. It will be incomprehensible to those, arrogant and drunk with power, who segregate the masses by caste and religion,” he said adding, “We need not unduly worry about those in an office, which is unconnected to the people, hence, I am focused on performing my duty.”
Though Stalin did not specifically name the Governor, it was very explicit as to who was his target of attack. For the past two days, the DMK and its allies have hauled Ravi over the coal for 'insulting' the Dravidian ideology, which had shaped the political trajectory of the state for over a century.
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Stalin, explaining the Dravidian Model, said “It is not necessary to explain to those who ask what is a Dravidian model. The happiness on your face and the smile shows the answer. All are equal by birth, says Thirukkural, and 'Everything for Everyone' is the Dravidian Model,” adding “Our Dravidian Movement is akin to the earth, which supports even those who bombard it.”
On the history and growth of the Dravidian movement, he said it was rationalist leader 'Periyar' EV Ramasamy who, through his untiring and selfless work, helped the enslaved Dravidian race for thousands of years, to acquire self-respect. It was 'Anna' (DMK founder CN Annadurai) who not only launched a movement for securing the rights of the marginalised but brought it to power. And it was 'Kalaignar' (DMK patriarch and his father M Karunanidhi), who implemented the vision of the Dravidian movement through radical schemes.
Though the DMK had given up the demand for Dravida Nadu, a separate Dravidian nation, long ago during the days of Anna, Ravi had accused the Dravidian movement of fostering a separatist eco-system and practising linguistic apartheid by not allowing any other Indian language. Furthermore, in an attempt at creating a mountain out of a molehill, he claimed that the law and order situation was alarming.
Ever since he assumed office in September 2021, Ravi has been at loggerheads with the elected government of Stalin. He has been deriding the Dravidian movement at every available opportunity whether it is a private function or a public event like a convocation at university, allowing himself to be the target of attack and being accused of turning the Raj Bhavan into a political hotspot. Yet, he remains unperturbed and continues to engage in an ideological battle. But, in this round of the battle, Stalin has taken the upper hand.
