ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Comments about Kanchi sankaracharya incense people

Shobha Warrier in Madras

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi has often trampled on people's sentiments when he makes comments on matters religious. And these include the Dravidian groups he seeks to represent.

Just recently he said that if the Hindu gods are not satisfied if archanas are performed in Tamil, as he has ordered, they could leave Tamil Nadu.

People were also not amused by the anger he expressed at a special invitation given to Kancheepuram sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati and his heir-apparent Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati for a railway function in the town. He even threatened to ask his transport minister not to attend the function if only the Kanchi Kamakoti swami was invited, thus giving a communal colour to the function.

Even non-Hindus felt the chief minister was over-reacting and trying to garner political mileage out of a function which otherwise would have been noticed by none except the people of the temple town.

"I cannot agree with the way the chief minister behaved," said Mathew Jo, a doctor. "Why do they want to give a religious colour to the invitation to the Kanchi sankaracharya? Everybody knows who the Kanchi sankaracharya is and what an important person he is in Kancheepuram.

"In fact, I'd say he has to be invited. I am against the way politicians manipulate people... People should understand how politicians behave and rise above their cunning ways. Otherwise, the people will continue to be exploited by such narrow-minded politicians."

"Anybody with some sense knows that periyavar (the Kanchi sankaracharya) is synonymous with Kancheepuram and that by inviting him, the railways did the right thing," said Rajeswari, a banker. According to her, Karunanidhi, who is terrified of the communal problems Tamil Nadu is facing now, is trying to placate the Muslims.

"This is just a gimmick to keep his popularity among the other groups high," she said. "But people should have the maturity to see through political games and come to their own conclusions."

The chief minister's comments, seen in a communal light, have already made some people insecure.

"Is there anything wrong in identifying yourself as a Hindu? Here in India, it is a sin to be a Hindu now," said Gopalarathnam, a retired company executive. "The Kanchi sankaracharya is a very important person in Kancheepuram and the railways did the right thing by inviting him for the function. Karunanidhi did wrong by criticising them. These politicians will do any cheap thing to get votes. They will even divide people for their ultimate aim of remaining in power."

According to Shanti Balakrishnan, a housewife, Karunanidhi would not have objected if a Christian or a Muslim religious head had been invited. "Here, anything vaguely connected with Hinduism is criticised... I feel it was silly of the chief minister to make such a hue and cry over such a non-issue. These politicians are so narrow-minded and self-centred that they are willing to go to any length for votes."

Senthil, a vegetable vendor, was unaware of the controversy but he was conscious of the 'games' played by politicians. "We have become so vulnerable, we have become such puppets that politicians play all kinds of games and make us look like fools. All of us know that politicians are trying to divide us using religion. But why do we let them divide us?"

"What is wrong in inviting the Kanchi acharya?" asked Sainuddin, a shop-keeper. "See, I have nothing against my Hindu or Christian neighbours. It is only these politicians who are interested in dividing people. They can go on ruling us only if they do that. What is the big difference between the British and today's politicians? Both believe in divide and rule!"

Professor Alfred Devaprasad wasn't angry with the politicians; but he was disappointed. "I really can't understand why the DMK had to give the railway function a communal colour. For Kancheepuram, that is a major function, a major developmental leap. And who is more qualified to grace the occasion than the Kanchi acharya? With its comments, the DMK has done more damage to the state," he said.

"I don't want to be so harsh," the young professor said, "but I feel if we continue this trend, we are lighting the funeral pyre of our nation," he said.

Tell us what you think of this report