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There is so much disruptions happening in Tamilnadu politics and it is about time, we start making efforts to make sure our opinions are based on some reason that does not defy logic or let's say, fundamental physics. (one may add history/civics/geography if he or she wishes to)
People of Tamilnadu are being forced to believe half-truths, incorrect information and outright lies. Such an effort has already driven the Tamil population to succumb to misconceptions related to Tamilnadu politics.
In this post, I am making an attempt to sort it out with the little I understand on the topic. Again, I will never say, I am absolutely right. However, I wish to humbly ask, if this is not right, what else is? I would appreciate a counter with reason built on facts that are open towards verification/testing. Faith for instance is more fantasy than fact.
We might as well get started.
I think the biggest misconception lies in the fact that arguments are built over premises that are essentially fake and the entire audience is driven to build the counter argument.
For example, sangam era Tamil literature up to Thirukural does not use the term god [as in kadavul], religion [as in madham] and caste [as in jathi]. It is after those times religions came to this land and the rest is history.
The history however exists in many versions and each version has an ulterior motive not necessarily positive and honest in any sense.
For example, one such popular opinion says Bhakti movement started in Tamilnadu and therefore Tamilnadu is a bastion of hindu culture.
The FACT is in plain sight and still the audience fails to recognize it! The popular opinion says Bhakti movement originated in Tamilnadu and not Tamilnadu originated from Bhakti movement!!!!
Read the previous statement one more time please!!!
Tamilians [as in Tamilargal] were here and the religions came to them!!! That is the fact. Please do not believe me blindly. Please watch the discussion below where two linguistic experts discuss Thirukural and what it prescribes as the essentials of an ideal society:
Now, the whole set of religions came and incorporated themselves into the Tamil culture. Fast forward to the present and there is a whole universe of opinions and arguments as to which religion is primary for Tamilians and which are Tamil gods and so on. Everyone is busy building arguments, however fact based, on a premise that is essentially FAKE NEWS!!!
This is the biggest misconception in Indian and Tamilnadu politics right now!! The above example is pointing at faith systems and the connection to Tamilnadu politics is through the right wing view which is trying to promote hindu culture as the entire nation’s unilateral culture!!! Anything understood or believed in this regard within the scope of Tamilnadu politics are HUGE MISCONCEPTIONS which need to be avoided.
The other important and often ignored misconception about Tamilnadu politics is the interpretation of the way Tamilnadu politics conducted itself over the decades and the key stakeholders who were responsible for it.
Try asking someone who has read Kannathasan’s books if there is a mention of a yellow towel leader stealing Kannadasan's work and taking credit for it! [The answer is yes and I will let you investigate!] Also, as a follow up try asking if the yellow towel leader asked his senior to present him a ring that the yellow towel leader bought for himself!
Try asking someone what are the ‘warrior clans’ of Tamilnadu and try reading any anthropology book to see their origins and you will see that most of them migrated from different lands and even spoke different languages. [This is a grey area and this requires thick cross-reading and so please be patient until you’ve read enough]
Try asking someone if caste groups demanded the British government and/or the state governments to officially declare their caste as ‘warrior caste’ and if such a certificate was provided and you will see there are many groups who did that. Try looking up their anthropological history and you will see their origins are outside of Tamil culture and they have now blended with what is now Tamilnadu.
Try looking up the yellow towel leader, warrior castes and the government declaration of caste classification and you will see that the entire caste/religion based political status, its maintenance and control had been with groups who are in reality very different from what their ‘government declarations’ indicate. For example, some warrior clans [as per the British government certificate] migrated to Tamilnadu as farm workers [labourers].
There is no undermining any group based on their ethnic origin but NOT RECOGNIZING the COMMONALITY AMONG THE KEY CONTROLLING GROUPS of Tamilnadu politics is the next biggest misconception and the above instances are here to serve as the reason. Again, please do not believe me blindly. Please make an effort to read the anthropological history of people who now live in Tamilnadu and you will see why they behave the way they do [right and wrong treated equally here].
If you wish to look deeper into the commonality of rising unfairness in Tamilnadu politics, feel free to read this blog post [10 minutes]:
There are many more misconceptions but I think they are a consequence of and built over the big misconceptions that have caught my attention so far which I have made an attempt to explain here.
All humans are equal!!!
Regards,
