The worst fear of Politicians is losing their chair. And this is the very reason they take decisions according to vote bank considerations. It was always easy for them to mock and interfere in Hindu rituals and get away with it. But not anymore, the Hindu bashing for political gains is now facing strong backlash. Evidently, the cumulative resistance of the Hindu community in Tamil Nadu has forced the Stalin government to withdraw its arbitrary and autocratic ban on Pattina Pravesam.
A win for Resolute Believers
After facing a huge backlash from the seers, Hindu groups and opposition, the Stalin-led DMK government on 8th May withdrew their arbitrary ban on Pattina Pravesam.
In the evening, the seer of Dharmapuram Adheenam, Sri La Sri Masilamani Desiga Gnanasambandha Paramacharya Swamigal, said that Chief Minister M K Stalin has permitted them to go ahead with the ritual scheduled for May 22.
The ban had hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community. So, it was becoming a liability for the DMK government. Hence, the admission took no time and passed a written order to correct its earlier mischievous ban. Mayiladuthurai Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) J Balaji said in his order that the ban has been revoked “based on the representation submitted by the manager of the Adheenam with required documents on May 7”.
Earlier the same officer, RDO J Balaji had issued the order on April 27 to ban this act of honouring the pontiff by carrying him on a palanquin. The officer had cited discrimination, Human rights violation, and law and order issues for banning the ritual. But the issue had started when K Veeramani, general secretary of Dravida Kazhagam (a group claimed as an ideological parent of Dravidian parties) condemned the ritual citing Human rights violation issues. Hence, the ban seemed to be a mere implementation of the whims of political masters.
The ban faced strong Opposition
Earlier, the Hindu groups, seers and opposition condemned the ban in one voice. The Adheenam seer had made a claim that he would give up his life to ensure the ritual. The leader of the principal opposition party AIADMK, Edappadi Palaniswami said, “(it is) wrong to ban a centuries-old practice”. State BJP chief K Annamalai had lambasted the ruling Stalin government and declared that he would lift the palanquin himself had the authorities not allowed the ritual to happen. On Twitter, he wrote, “This is not like how (DMK) partymen carried Gopalapuram (Karunanidhi’s residence) this is a different kind of service to a guru.”
தருமபுர ஆதீனத்தின் பல நூற்றாண்டுகள் பழமையான ‘பட்டின பிரவேசம்’ மீதான தடை தமிழக நாகரிகம் மற்றும் கலாச்சாரத்திற்கு எதிரானது.
ஆதினத்தைத் தோளில் சுமக்க நான் நேரில் வருவேன் என்பதைத் தமிழக அரசுக்குத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்!
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— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) May 4, 2022
Read More: Annamalai— This young former IPS and BJP leader has taken Tamil Nadu by storm
The ritual, Dharmapuram Adheenam Mutt
The ritual Pattina Pravesam means ‘entering a city’. It is said to be at least 400 years rich in history. In this ritual, to honour the pontiff (priest/Guru), the believers carry him in a silver palanquin according to Dharmapuram Adheenam Mutt’s rituals. The Dharmapuram Adheenam mutt is one of the oldest Shaivite mutts. In Tamil, both the Shaivite mutts and their heads are called Adheenam.
Dravidian Politics: Spew Hatred against Hindus
This ban was not the only interference in Hindu rituals or acts of Hindu hatred. The Dravidian politicians have been in the past doing hateful acts against the Hindu religion, tradition and culture. The group Dravidar Kazhagam which gave the clarion call for the arbitrary ban was founded by Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy (popular as Periyar). Periyar is also claimed to be the Father of the Dravidian Movement.
Read More: Periyar was an anti-Hindu, anti-Brahmin bigot who deserves to be criticised not lauded
He had been a rabid Hindu hater who in the garb of Social Reforms provoked Hindus to the hilt. As per Superstar Rajnikant’s claim, Periyar in 1971 in Salem, attended a rally in which obscene images of deities were included. The images and idols of many deities including Lord Shri Ram were beaten by the hooligans with slippers, among other atrocious acts.
The act of the DMK government kneeling to the Hindu sentiments reflects that this can be a turning point in Tamil Nadu politics. Unlike the times of Periyar, Politicians now can’t get away with Hindu hatred. The Hindu renaissance shaping up in Tamil Nadu has the potential to completely shatter the fake theories on which Dravidian Politics is hinged.