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Dravidian Centenary
Dravidian Centenary
COMMENT 13
SIMPLY SOUTH
M C RAJAN
ISTORY does not repeat itself for it is only historians who repeat it! This holds true for the ageing DMK chief M Karunanidhi, though not a historian proper.
HE irrelevance of the DMKs antibrahmin postures is evident from the fact that Jayalalithaa, a Brahmin, could become Chief Minister of the state for a third time. Anti-brahminism as a political plank has lost its edge due to the compromises made by the Dravidian parties as well as the changing socio-economic conditions. The Dravidian movement had its beginning as an elite club opposed to the Brahmins growing influence in the administration. However, the Dravidian elite
were at fault for taking the women and children into custody at night when it was not warranted. It was after a hue and cry by the civil society that a case was registered on the complaint of the victims, including a pregnant lady and a minor girl, all of a family. According to the complaint, a police team in search of the accused in a theft case, took them to a nearby grove and committed the offence. Strangely, the medical examination of the victims was conducted almost after a week after the incident had occurred, while the DGP maintained in his affidavit that there was no evidence to prove forced sexual intercourse.
IN THE Ramayan, sage Viswamitra eliminated demons through his disciples Ram and Lakshman. Now, his devotees will be asking him to take on the nuke plant at Koodankulam. In order to dispel the perception that it is the Church which is behind the anti-nuke campaign, the leaders spearheading the protest have decided to perform a mass-ritual in the Viswamitra temple at nearby Vijayapathy. Next week, women would take out a procession of carrying milk-pots to seek his intercession in this issue and save them from the plant. Considered as a powerful deity in the region, people flock to the shrine mostly with petitions to protect