Interaction with Tamil Nadu Youngsters (1)

I was particularly lucky to get into contact with a youngster of Tamil Nadu who is out of the bad influences of the false ‘Dravidian Stock’. He is one Mr. Sivakumar Mahalingam. His twitter profile ID itself is self revealing as it is ‘@TN2point0’, which means the young man is interested in restoring TN to its past glory. True to this intention he recently conducted through his Youtube channel an essay and video competition for the high school kids to write a script about what do they understand by Indian Independence day and its 75-th Anniversary. He has given away liberal prizes for the best presentations.

During our interactions he requested me for a video interview, to know what the Tamils of earlier generations think about the political situation in TN. I agreed for the same with a condition that, he should agree for an interview by me to know the minds of TN youngsters. The following is the gist of such an interview, along with my later responses for the same. My sincere thanks to Mr. Sivakumar and his friend Vignesh Selvaraj (@thiruppam_Vikky)

Here are my questions and answers:    

1.         Why in TN, there is a general hatred towards:

a) Sanskrit, b) Brahmins c) Our PM Sri Modi

The general feelings among TN youngsters are:

Sanskrit is considered Aryan.

It is considered predominantly Hindu.

Tamil is an older language and it need not play second fiddle to Sanskrit.

Tamil faces threat from Sanskrit in cultural and religious areas.

It is dead language.

We don’t lose anything by not knowing it and by not using it.

My Response:

Aryan Dravidian theory has been proved wrong by many scholars

Sanskrit is totally Indian, as we do not find any language similar to Sanskrit outside India.

It was developed as a link language to value, enjoy and unite all the diverse cultures of India.

Sanskrit was never spoken, as a mother tongue or even otherwise, by any specific community either in north or south or in East of India. That is the reason why it appears dead for non-scholars.

It slowly evolved as a language of the elite and continued to be so until 18^th Century, and just like English from then on. And just like, presently, Hindi is being forced to be by northerners.

in the ancient times, all Indian thoughts were commonly expressed in Sanskrit to reach all of India. that is how Sanskrit became a treasure house of ancient Indian Knowledge.If you refuse to learn, basically you are refusing to know about native knowledge base. (Translations are no good and often biased). For example, Pythogoras/Baudayana theorem was evolved by Tamil Siddar Bodhayanar, centuries before Ptythogoras and it was included in Sanskrit Scientific works as a work of Saint Baudayana. You may google on Baudayana and Bodayanar and see for yourself.There is a general problem with extreme Tamil Nationalist. Whatever is theirs, they sadly disown it, when any other community adopts the same. Like Murugan was a Tamil deity and it was adopted all over India as Karthik or Subramania, and immediately we disown the same. Carnatic music has basically evolved from Tamil Pannisai, but since Telugu Brahmins like St Thyagaraja, adopted it to their lyrics, we disown it. Same thing will happen to our Odhuvar tradition also, very soon.

Tamil language and culture never lost to Sanskrit, in the last 2000 years of their co-existance. But I am afraid Tamil will eventually lose to this fake Dravidian theory, unless we wake up now.

b) Brahmins:

This theory of Khyber Pass is totally false.

Even if it were true it must have been several thousands of years back. There were so many other recent Vandheri’s (வந்தேறிகள்) like Naiks, Marathas, Telugus and Kannadigas, whom the so called Tamil Nationalists have accepted. They even accept yesterday’s Vandheris like Tablighis and Rohingyas!

Brahmins were always accepted as a respectable Tamil community throughout the Tamil history right from Tholkappiar and Silappadikaram times. These Brahmins, in more recent times, allowed themselves to be misused by British regime (and more, by its Indian supporters like other upper caste Hindus). Brahmin’s contributions to even the contemporary Tamil culture and literature are immense. (eg, Tamil thatha U. Ve. Sa, Kalki, Ki,Va, Ja.) Many of the Aazhwar &  Nayanmars are Brahmins and they sang the praise of the Hindu deities, Vishnu perumal and Siva peruman and contributed greatly to the ocean of Bhakti literature in Tamil.

One thing that is being unjustly held against Brahmins, is the Manu Script, which talks of four varnas or types of people and puts Brahmins on top. Manu was not a Brahmin, and has written so many other things, these Tamil Nationalists do not want to see or acknowledge. If we take the 4 varnas as an universal classification, then in fact, we can see these 4 kinds of people everywhere even today. Manu has equated the top category to Brahmins, only because of his deep respect for Brahmins of his times. Tirukkural has also accepted the three classes of people, in Perarivaalan, Nayanudaiyan and Perunthakaiyaan, and their interests and capablities, as below:

(அதிகாரம்:ஒப்புரவறிதல் குறள் எண்:215, 216, 217)

ஊருணி நீர்நிறைந் தற்றே உலகவாம்
பேரறி வாளன் திரு

பயன்மரம் உள்ளூர்ப் பழுத்தற்றால் செல்வம்
நயனுடை யான்கண் படின்.

மருந்தாகித் தப்பா மரத்தற்றால் செல்வம்
பெருந்தகை யான்கண் படின்.

Perarivaalan – Men with immense learning and knowledge. How a common village reservoir, when filled with water, will feed the entire neighbourhood with food, water and nutrition, same way the Men with immense learning and knowledge, will share their knowledge with all others in the neighbourhood. Is this not what will be expected from all learned people?

Nayanudaiyaan – Wise Men with a heart full of concerns about the welfare of others around him. When such people are prosperous, they would share the fruits of their prosperity with the whole neighbourhood.

Perunthakaiyan –   Men of Valour. When there is a misfortune affecting the whole village, like decease, dacoity or any miss-rule, men of valour would stand to fight against it. In this they will be like herbal drugs grown on a tree in the town’s courtyard, helping all the villagers equally.

General hatred towards Brahmins has now evolved into hatreds, towards anything a Brahmin supports and towards anything that supports Brahmins. And hence we see other hatreds, like, towards Sanskrit, towards Carnatic Music, towards Hindus and now towards our PM Sri Modi also.  Is this not called the caste-bias that leads to caste-violence against them, like, ‘Garland of chappals for Lord Rama’, ‘Cutting off tufts of Brahmins and their Sacred threads’ and ‘putting on the Holy thread on the Pigs etc’?

It is true that many Tamil Brahmins are deeply disturbed and disgusted by this. Many of them are reluctant to return to Tamil Nadu after their career in other states – even after retirement.

Two of my close friends sold the house they had bought in Chennai, to live after retirement and bought a house in Bangalore. For the past 25/30 years, many Brahmin families have given up their traditional home and their vedic profession and left the villages for urban areas to live an anonymous life there.  In Chennai, they live somewhat the same quality of life to some extent because of their strength in numbers. Many of them have migrated to foreign states and even foreign countries. Is this also the reason why the population of Brahmins in Tamil Nadu has declined from 8% to 2% now?  Because of this, the temples and other Hindu socio-religious institutions in villages and smaller towns have been affected and the temples have been reduced to shambles leading to people of other religions to have taken taken them over (!?!). It will be nice to let someone look into this and report the facts.

Even if a few brahmins lament in despair as follows,

—————

Mahesh 

@Mahesh10816

I strongly advocate that Brahmins all over world should come together purchase an island in some part of the world ( not in India) & create a separate country for Brahmins where they can follow their culture & rituals with their heads held high. Another Israel has to be created

3:25 PM · Aug 17, 2021:

——————————————

In social media he was literally trolled for the above comment

c) Modi

Now let us deal with TN’s ahtred towards Modi

Modi is not a Brahmin. He is an OBC, but with lot of respects for Hindu Religion and culture and of course for Brahmins also, who, he thinks, are the custodians of Hindu Religion and culture. This is the reason why he has got great respects for Tamils as the best custodian of the oldest religion of Sanatana Dharma and the oldest language, Tamil.

Now in 2024, even if wins elections he may not continue as a PM. Hope they find somebody like him to lead BJP and India. But we are sure the new PM cannot be as efficient and as sincere, as Sri Modi. Hence if at all we want something done for TN, this is the right time. Hope the people of TN, the Tamil Nationalists and Dravidian Stock politicians realize this. Whatever are the serious short coming of central government, I think, they are not, because of Mr Modi, but in spite of him.

2) Why there is so much of drinking habit in TN, especially among youngsters?

I am not vehemently against drinking. In fact, I feel it is less harmful than smoking.

However I am not a habitual drinker. When I am in a good company of social drinkers, I also enjoy drinking. But I drink only as much as I enjoy it, not any bit more.

I distinguish between drinkers and drunkard. I will never go to a bar for drinking. It will only be some good restaurants or some private premises.

Even now, I drink, but hardly 2 or 3 times in a year. Because of Pandemic I did not drink even once during the last 18 months.

Now coming to people in TN:

Definitely it is not social drinking and neither do they all enjoy drinking. Actually they do not bother at all, about the company in which they are drinking. In such a case how can it be social drinking?

Perhaps, I may call them as non-social drinkers. For such drinkers, it is only a question of time, (or the number of pegs) before they become Anti-social.

Some drink because of habit, some because they think it is MANLY and some others because they are afraid and unwilling to take any responsibility.

And sadly, TN govt is exploiting these people and naturally they end up encouraging such attitudes of fear and lack of responsibility in them. Is it fair for a Govt to do this?

Now I will come to youngsters:

When you are living off your parents’ earnings, you are not supposed to splurge on expenses which your parents don’t approve. It is downright lack of respect and highly irresponsible. Nowadays I hear school boys are also into the habit of drinking.

Even after you start earning, your first responsibility is for your parents who might have spent a considerable sum of money in educating you. They might have taken a few loans for buying your house, vehicles etc. They may also have the responsibility of marrying off their daughter and not missing, they may be taking care of their old parents (your grandparents), of their medical and other expenses. After helping your parents in all the above aspects, then you can think of your own enjoyment. And in the list of things you enjoy, (really enjoy!), drinking should be the last. Again, you should always be watchful of your company. If you are in the wrong company then you are in for trouble. You should also go to a decent bar or restaurants. Never drink outside the liquor shops, as it is a breeding place for antisocial elements. 

Even in many advanced countries selling liquor to youngsters is a punishable offence. It is so in India also! But like all other laws in India this law is also blind. It has to remain blind when govt itself is committing this offence. Liquor shops and bars should never be close together. The liquor shops should not have a neither a bar can sell liquor to any outsider. This is also illegal in all countries.  

In all religions the following thing are considered sins:

கொலை, களவு, பொய், பிறன்மனை-காமம், குரு-நிந்தனை இவை ஐந்தும் பஞ்சமா பாதகம் எனப்படும். Murder, theft, lying, lust, guru-reproach – are all called pancha padakas- the five Great Sins.

But as you become a habitual drinker, at some point of time you may commit all these sins.

Please take care, TN youngsters.

3.         Are the people of Tamil Nadu really against Indian nationalism (தேசியம்)?

It is true that we were all different nations at different points of time in history. That way, even what we call as Tamil Nadu was never a single Unit at any time in history. It was also divided into Pandyas, Cholas and Pallavas. Even in the recent history Chera Nadu became a different state. And Yazhpanam and North Srilanka was a part of Pandyas and Cholas. Vijayanagar dynasty ruled many southern part of Taminadu. Palayakkaras and Naiks ruled Madurai and Southernmost parts of Tamil Nadu. Maratthas ruled from Tanjore and Nawabs ruled from Arcot. Tamil Nadu very rarely remained under one ruler and nether with a well defined border.  With all these we remained a Tamil country mainly due to our language and culture. With all the various above rulers we developed a composite culture but without losing our own language and basic religion and culture. When we live in a composite culture there would always be many gives & takes. We can be proud that we have always given more than what we have taken, except may be in the period of British rule in the last 200 years or so. (eg) Tamil Music of PANNS, Bhakti Culture of Azhwars and Nayanmars, our deities Sivan, Sakthi and Murugan are some of our contribution to the composite Indian cuture. India’s dominating preachers like Adi Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhva were all from Tamil culture but had evolved as religious icons of whole of India, (i,e,) throughout Bharat . (not to speak of Curry, Sambhaar and Saree, which have become international symbols of South India). We also allowed Tamil Language to evolve into several southern languages like Malayalam , Kannada, and several other dialects. We Tamils, under the false Dravidian influence, have started disowning our own values, just because somebody whom we think are ‘OUTSIDERS’, are practicing them.

Examples:

Carnatic Music – It has evolved from our Tamil Panns. Just because Brahmins and Telugus have started practicing the same, it has become Aryan. How can it be, when such kind of music is practiced and followed only in South India?

The deities Murugan and Sivan: Just because these deities have been included among the Hindu Pantheon, why should we call them Aryan? There are hardly any temples for Murugan in the north. Again we have a saying “தென்னாடுடைய சிவனே போற்றி”, how can we call him an Aryan deity.

We call India as Hindustan, not because of our religion. Some invaders and foreigners called all the area around River Sindhu (Indus valley) and beyond in the South, as Hindi or Indi. Later the people who live there were called Hindus or Indus or Indians. The religion itself was always known as Sanatana Dharma and it does not depend on any single God or any single scripture.

It believes in limitless time and space; the whole space/time is known as “super-consciousness” or Para Brahmam. Our Dharma also believes that nobody can know and get a full measure of this consciousness. But it is our duty to try and perceive the same. That is why all our saints and yogis are called Seekers or Seers (or in Tamil as Parpanar or Paarpan). All our people, including Native Muslims and Christians believe in rebirth. We believe that every life in this world has undergone several rebirths earlier and will continue to take more births, till it finds a way to stop this cycle and go back and merge again with Para Brahmam. Even though people had their own Gods, they still believe they are all images of the same Para Brahmam.

There were many religious heads who wanted to unify all gods in the Hindu County. While many of them failed, it was left for Adi Sankara to find some significant success in this area. He founded the Shanmatha Stapana, (ஆறு மத ஒன்றியம்),    in which he merged the worshippers of Siva, Vishnu, Shakti, Ganapathi, Kumaran and Surya and called the sect as Smarthas or followers of Smrithis or Vedhas. All the worshippers of Siva and the folk gods like Madurai veeran, Virumandi were merged with the same Linga Idols. Same way all the folk female deities like Mari, Durga, Kotravai, Angalamman, Paraasakthi were merged as Shakti Swarupa, Kumran is obviously our Murugan. In him were merged the Subramanya image of the north and all the local nadukal, (நடுகல்) folk heroes. Surya was worshipped as such all over the country as a god of light and heat and perhaps only god of the south merged into him was Lord of rain the Indra. Vishnu was mainly from the North and Ganapathi was mainly from Maharashtra and the western regions of India.

(https://www.kamakoti.org/kamakoti/details/our%20heritage%202.html)

Just like Tamil Nadu remains united as of now, due to unity of language and culture. Same way India was always remaining united on the basis of religion and culture. There were always other minorities in India from very long time. They had also accepted this Indian culture. They never found this to be against their religion at all.  (eg) Most of the Indian Christians and Muslims, believe in law of Karma and in re-births.

When such is our cultural history, where is the need to become allergic to the concepts of ‘National’are ‘All India’.

Vande Mataram, தாய் மண்ணே வணக்கம், Jai Hind

_________________________o0OXO0o_________________________

Migrant Workers in India

It really amazes me that there is no reliable data on migrants anywhere in our country. If we had the data or if we were aware of their magnitude, we could have easily taken care of them before declaring lockdown in March 2020. Though the governments at the centre and states talked about migrant labourers they never thought it could blow up to this dimension. For instance when 1^st lockdown was announced in March, PM mentioned about migrants and requested them to stay where they are, and requested the employers, NGOs and local governments to take care of them.  In my own modest way, even I had helped two dozens of poor migrants by giving them food & provisions on my own, and through an NGO. Unfortunately the migrants were keener on going back to their home towns, either because of their concern for their immediate family membersduring the pandemic , or because of the insufficiency of relief offered. If we had known the magnitude, we could have made such a help mandatory by host state or native state or the employer or all together, before extending the lockdown. Or at least we could have given them time to reach home before announcing transports lock down. There were not a single labour leader like Datta Samanth, George Fernandez or Uma Nath to take up this problems on behalf of these migrants , more strongly with the concerned governments and employers. There was no one to talk to them, to listen to them and to advise them. Otherwise how could any labourer most foolishly attempt to reach his home town, many hundreds of miles away, by walking on highways and railway tracks?

Migration of any working population should always be encouraged. Sticking to your own home town or village under various excuses will always work against prosperity, whether one is poor or not so poor. People, at least the bread winner of any family should be willing to move to find better pastures. Short term migration, short distance migration should always be encouraged, because it brings prosperity not only to the family but to the whole community around the family. Same is not true to the same extant with long term long distance migration, because it is not likely to generate same amount of prosperity to the community in his native place. Migration to gulf-states is an exception where it is always considered permanently temporary. When large scale, long distance and long term migration takes place it is always a tragedy. These states’ economy gets used to a very high amount of boost to their economy by repatriated income, hence, most of the time these states fail to provide local employment within the state, by starting new industries and businesses. Kerala is an outstanding example of such an economy.

Contrary to normal belief, MGNREGA scheme is not intended to stop or discourage migration of skilled labour. On the contrary it should help skilling people with the on-the-job experience to help them migrate. Only way to prevent large scale, long term, long distance, migration will be to ensure uniform development of all regions of the country. There should not be any BIMARU state at all in our country.

However it is absolutely essential to have reliable data on migrant labourers, their population, their requirements and availability. It will help even the employers and the governments to plan their projects and facilities accordingly. The easiest is to have a district wise census of migrant workers. In this instance I remember, when I was in Germany for a 2-months training in a small town, I was advised by my employer to register my temporary stay with the local municipal office. There were several incentives, like, concessional bus passes, local library membership, limited free medical aid etc. This could be the only way to take care of long distance migrants in case of any major tragedy or disaster.

Suggested policy on Migrant workers

1. Every District Administrator in India should have a register of migrant workers.
2. Voter ID or Aadhar Card will be the proof, for anyone’s place of nativity or normal residence, for establishing the person’s migrant status.
3. Anyone who works outside his home state (as per his Voter ID or Aadhar Card) may volunteer to register with the District Admin
4. If one is temporarily posted in his migrant job for a few days up to a period of one month, he or she is not considered a migrant and hence need not register.
5. If one is posted for a limited period of time varying from one month to one year, he may register, if he prefers.
6. If he is posted for any period more than a year or for any unlimited period, it is obligatory that he registers.
7. As an incentive, any registered migrant worker may have certain privileges like; Free medical insurance, membership of local library, a migrant ID card, concessional govt accommodation, eligibility for any subsidy of the host state, easy admissions for his kids in local schools etc.
8. Migrants may register for 3 months, 6 moths, 1 year, 2 years & 5 years, with a facility to extend the same.
9. After 5 years of (registered) migrant status they will be eligible to become a native of the host state. This Nativity will make the migrant eligible for any host government scheme meant for “Sons of the soil”. They can exchange their voter ID and Aadhar card  with updated details.
10. After 10 years of (registered) migrant status, they will lose their migrant status and will become a native of the host state. They should change their voter Id and Aadhar Card.
11. Documents needed for registration: Voter ID, Aadhar Card, employers letter with his PAN and Aadhar. If self-employed the appropriate Skill Certificate. If self-employed only one year migrant registration will be done, to be extended later. For dependents, certificate of relationship will also be required.

There are several advantages in the above scheme:

a) It will be easier to ensure that migrants will have all the rights and priveges similar to the local population.

b) They will have legal protection against any kind of exploitation.

c) After contributing to the economy of host state for extended periods of 5 years or more, they will have the option of becoming a local citizen with proper nativity certificate, new Voter ID and an updated Aadhar Card.

Hope the Central and State Governments of India will take this problem of migrant population seriously and give adequate consideration on the above lines.

L V Nagarajan