Tamil Thai Vazhthu Row: Is the Tamil Anthem Debate Diverting Attention from Tamil Nadu’s Socio-Economic Problems?
Justice Markandey Katju on Tamil Nadu politics
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- Why was Tamil Thai Vazhthu made compulsory in Tamil Nadu
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- Justice Markandey Katju article on Tamil Nadu politics and Tamil anthem
Justice Markandey Katju calls Tamil Nadu’s mandatory Tamil Thai Vazhthu resolution a “diversionary stunt” and questions whether cultural politics is overshadowing unemployment, poverty, healthcare, education and rising prices.
A diversionary stunt
by Justice Markandey Katju
The recent Tamil Nadu legislature's resolution making singing the song 'Tamizh Thai Vazhthu' compulsory before commencement of programmes in all educational institutions, government offices, public sector undertakings, and other public institutions in the state, is to my mind only a dissembling stunt and a gimmick.
Its aim is to divert the attention of the people of Tamil Nadu from the huge socio-economic problems facing the state, and particularly from the promises made by Chief Minister Vijay and his TVK party in their election promises.
In the Election Manifesto of the TVK, a host of tall promises were made to the people of Tamil Nadu if the party came to power.
Now that the TVK has come to power, the time has come to redeem those promises.
Obviously Vijay knows he cannot possibly fulfil these electoral promises ( in fact, one of the first things he said after becoming CM was that the state was broke, and there was nothing left in the state treasury ). So he has resorted to the time-tested device which most rulers resort to, viz diverting the attention of the people from their real problems to non-issues.
The Roman Emperors used to say '' If you cannot give the people bread, give them circuses ''. The same formula is used by the present Indian rulers, e.g. the recent law relating to the song Vande Mataram.
The test of all political activity is one, and only one: does it raise the standard of living of the people? Does it give them better lives?
Once we keep this firmly in mind, it is obvious that whether Tamilians sing Tamizh Thai Vezhthu in public functions, public offices, educational institutions, or not, is wholly irrelevant.
Does singing it reduce poverty, unemployment, child malnutrition, prices of food and other essential commodities, and lack of proper healthcare and good education for the masses in Tamil Nadu?
Some may say it makes Tamilians proud of their language and culture. There is no doubt that Tamil has a rich literature and culture, of which Tamilians may be rightly proud of. But more important for Tamilians is to solve their present huge socio-economic problems than to keep gloating about the antiquity of their language.
How does making the song compulsory in public functions, public organizations and educational institutions solve the unemployment problem in Tamil Nadu, or reduce the skyrocketing prices of food, etc, and provide better healthcare and good education to the people of Tamil Nadu?
I am sure that Tamilians, who are a highly intelligent people, will soon see through this sham, playacting, and charade.
(Justice Markandey Katju is a former judge of the Supreme Court of India and a former Chairman of the Press Council of India. The views expressed are his own.)
FAQ
Why does Justice Markandey Katju call the Tamil Thai Vazhthu resolution a “diversionary stunt”?
Justice Markandey Katju argues that making Tamil Thai Vazhthu compulsory at government functions, educational institutions and public bodies does not address Tamil Nadu’s pressing socio-economic challenges. In his view, political attention should instead focus on issues such as unemployment, poverty, food prices, malnutrition, healthcare and education, as well as the electoral promises made by the Vijay-led TVK government.
