Chennai: A man with a mission to take on the reigning Dravidian ideology, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has yet again stirred up a hornet's nest by claiming it is an outdated one fostering a separatist ecosystem and desperately sustained by the slogan 'Dravidian model'. While the governor, aware of the backlash, relishes in engaging in an ideological duel, the strong reaction to this was predictable with the demand for his recall gaining fresh momentum.
Opening a new front in his battle with the DMK government of MK Stalin, priding himself in pursuing a 'Dravidian model of Governance', Ravi in an interview with an English daily was apparently combative in his disapproval of the model. “First of all, there is no such model of governance. It is only a political slogan, a desperate bid to sustain an expired ideology, an ideology that does not relish the idea of 'Oru Bharatham and on India'. An ideology that underplays the national freedom movement, and instead glorifies those who collaborated with the British.” Not stopping at that, he continues, “It is an ideology that rabidly enforces linguistic apartheid on the whole of the nation. No other language is allowed entry into Tamil Nadu. It is an ideology that has created an ecosystem that fosters separatist sentiment.”
This is enough to inflame not only Dravidian parties of all shades but the Congress and other allies of the DMK. His frequent confrontations with the elected government are both ideological and administrative, while it is mostly the latter for his counterparts in neighbouring Telangana and Kerala, inviting criticism that all of them are obstructive. As he himself admits to being a believer in 'Sanatana Dharma', Ravi's outpour against the Dravidian ideology clearly shows that he is uncomfortable with it.
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While Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko, MP, demanded an apology from the governor, the DMK was measured but stinging in its response. “Mudslinging on the Dravidian movement is malicious and condemnable. It is the Dravidian model which had countered 'Manu Dharma' by ensuring social justice, equality, women's rights, and welfare of the depressed classes and minorities besides espousing the cause of linguistic and cultural rights as well as state autonomy. Terming this as an empty slogan betrays Ravi's hegemonic Hindutva mindset. Let him speak these by vacating the Raj Bhavan. He should tender an apology for insulting Dravidian ideology,” Vaiko slammed in a statement.
Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin in a letter to the party cadre asking them to carry out a campaign on the achievements of the government in two years, said “There have been people who spread calumny against the Dmk since its inception. Still, there are some who eke out a living by spewing slander at the party. And some criticise earning an identity for themselves. We have seen this in the past as well, but we were never rattled by these canards.”
More forthcoming was party spokesperson TKS Elangovan who said “The governor is ignorant of the Constitution and the Dravidian model, the philosophical basis of which is equality. India that we have today took birth after independence in 1947. Prior to that, we were not one nation. We are fighting for cultural and linguistic rights and it is not to their liking as they are unwilling to give them up. We have given up secessionism long back and fighting for the state's rights should not be misconstrued. During the Chinese aggression and Indo-Pak war, we have collected donations for the war efforts.” Further, responding to Ravi's questioning of the law and order situation in the state, he said, “A large number of migrants from the north pouring into Tamil Nadu and living peacefully is proof enough of the state being a haven of peace.”
Analysts opine that Ravi, overzealous in carrying out an ideological battle, has been hitting on the wrong tree. “On painting the DMK as soft towards separatist tendencies and the law and order situation as alarming, Ravi's claim does not hold water. He should look at the states run by the BJP and its allies rather than making a mountain out of a molehill. The DMK has come a long way by discarding Dravida Nadu.” says commentator Tharasu Shyam. As Ravi himself admits, Tamil Nadu bewilders him as there is a disjoint between how the people, who are deeply spiritual, are and the politics, which is not dictated by religion.
