This conversation discusses about the general mindset of the people of two southern most states of India, Tamil Nadu and Kerala on consistent inclination towards regional political parties and almost total rejection of national political parties across multiple general elections, taking into consideration a complete rout in these states, when the national party outperformed in the rest of the country, exceeding expectations, as witnessed in the recent general election results.
The conversation is between a curious North Indian eagerly trying to find out the reason, with his close friend, a Tamil (yours truly) (a bit animated, as you would expect it to be 🙂 ), on this subject.
Seeker 1: I hear that
Tamil Nadu and Kerala is the next focus for the national parties for the future
elections if they are maintain a clear mandate.
Seeker 2: People’s mindset in these two states are unlikely to change in near future. The language Malayalam is considered to be the younger sister (affectionately called as “Thangachi” (தங்கச்சி)) or “than katchi” (தன கட்சி) – company of the like with the Tamil language. So the two states are always unique from the rest of the country on everything and similar to each other in almost everything.
National parties cannot have much impact in these states as long as they are oriented towards the dominantly speaking language in the rest of the country.
The influence and the
devotion to the state language in these two states is extremely strong and is
incomparable to anywhere or with any culture. I don’t think you will see
anywhere in the world where people even go to the extent of even committing
suicide when any outside forces try to cause disrepute to the language. This
can happen only with the people of Tamil Nadu. This has already been witnessed
in the 1960s and that impact hasn’t subsided much.
Seeker 1: There’s always
a solution I believe. Some great leader who has uniting qualities can do the
trick.
Seeker 2: If you read
the wiki on what happened in the 1960s, you will be out of words. No way!
I have been in this
culture for life and even I will go to any extent if the language is offended. This
is not fanaticism but this is due to the strong roots of the language because
of its ancient nature, the heritage, the literatures, the ingrained tradition
etc. Tamil is just one of the very few classical language that is present in
every continent and continue to thrive as ever. (Tamil Diaspora)
Seeker 1: But who’s
damaging the culture, language etc.?
Seeker 2: I have just
mentioned it and you are asking it again! The language is equated to life
itself in this part of the world. Definitely the attitude of all the central
governments right through in trying to impose “alien language” to them, when it
is least required has never really worked out well. We never have any intention
to impose our language all over the place then why we should we be subjected to
this? Any non-regional party, alien to Tamil, is alien to people of Tamil Nadu
that’s all! Again, I am only talking about the big majority of population, as
is evident. There are lots of people who are neutral in this aspect as well,
but that is minor.
Seeker 1: National
parties will be any day better than the local regional parties. Then, why?
Seeker 2: You can’t
say that and change that mindset of the people of Tamil Nadu (or Kerala).
Friend, this is a vain argument!
Seeker 1: I think
people will get more flexible. With love and compassion, when it’s for the
larger good, people would rise above personal gains, it’s about dharma. Language
is just a medium…
Seeker 2: When certain
things are ingrained in their blood for generations, this is not the case. You
have to come and live here (in Tamil Nadu) for at least a month to realize that,
not by living some 2500 kilometers away when you cannot even imagine the ground
realities.
Seeker 1: Ultimately it’s
about seeking Brahman.
Seeker 2: What
Brahman? (LOL) Welcome to the real word yaar (dear friend) (LOL). What you are
saying may sound pleasant to idealistic or self-realised souls, but not to the
general majority of people driven by passionate and fanatic people around, the
atheists and pseudo-religious people dominating the political climate.
Seeker 1: But, I could
see people of Bengal and North East have changed their mindset, why not the
people of Tamil Nadu and Kerala?
Seeker 2: I guess they
are not known to have that much affinity to their language, because of the
similarities in script etc. when compared to Tamils.
Seeker 1: Oh! Then why
don’t you write about this and influence your people. Why are you being so
pessimistic? I’m sorry. But I think you should believe in the power of positivity.
Seeker 2: By saying
about “your” people, are you taking about separatism and that we are not a part
of this country? Ok, then I need to make you understand on this with facts and
figures. But this will digress our discussion. You can google for that and find
out yourself. Easily said when you are not considering something called reality.
Seeker 1: I never said
it is easy. I believe in where there is a will there is a way. How can the
national political parties take away Tamil from Tamilians? I don’t understand
the logic. Our guru used to say that it is imperative to preserve your local
language. No compromise on this.
Seeker 2: That people
ingrained here will know better. The culture and the mindset is totally
different, dude. For the kind of devotion, the people have for their
language…
the bigger picture and interests doesn’t come into picture!
It’s not national
party or anything, it’s just the LANGUAGE that’s it…end of story.
Seeker 1: So, no
compromise on that? Ha ha…
Seeker 2: Ask your Guru
to do sermons to the people of Tamil Nadu and change them if possible in this
aspect. He can’t do it and nobody in the
world can do it I bet at this point of time.
Seeker 1: Ha ha.
Seeker 2: Look at the
election results and see for yourself. Every time the results are in a
contradiction with the rest of the country. Analyze the previous election
results, and you will know it better. Okay you will be following politics for the
rest of your let and let me know wherever we are let me know when you expect this
to happen, I will also be very happy J certain things cannot be just
compared, dear friend. Just remember what happened during the Jallikattu
protests (Please read about this, at least, to see the impact it
created on the rest of the country/world), an uncompromising show unity never
seen before for a cultural practice, a couple of years back, I was there on the
battleground – Marina beach, Chennai with 1000s of people coming from all over
the state to express solidarity, the conversations and the camaraderie shown. I
can’t explain in words, yaar, much on the feelings on the language on the heart
of the people because the damage that has been done by the outsiders on the
Tamil culture.
It’s always the
regional parties, no matter what, the seemingly lesser corrupt wins that time
that’s all. This is just because of their contribution to the Tamil language,
all through these years, that’s all, nothing else. End of story.
Seeker 1: Ha ha.
Seeker 2: It’s futile
to stand on mountain top and talk things happening on the ground. That summarize
this discussion.
Seeker 1: I don’t
remember anything offhand but I believe that there might have been greater
transformations in this world. When the whole prakriti (earth) is just a god’s
dream, any great fanaticism will have to succumb to it. When it’s god’s own
will…
Seeker 2: Man, I also can quote lot of examples
even in this but this is not the time for it. That will maybe happen in an
epoch, but not definitely not in our lifetime …
Seeker 1: I don’t
disagree with that.
Seeker 2: You are too
utopic and always thinking on the positive side.
Seeker 1: But having
said that, Stranger things have always happened.
Seeker 2: But negative
elements tremendously outweigh the positive in Kali Yuga. You have read Srimad
Bhagavatham… so you know how much bad habits has been ingrained among the
people of this age. Brain development on spiritual subject is almost zero among
99.99999% population.
Seeker 1: Hmm. But I
was asking my Guruji and he said that God maintains that balance. I always find
good people around. And my heart also goes like that, you know…
Seeker 2: That means I
can say you don’t have much exposure to the outside world, or you are too
utopic. The first one is not possible because you are living in a city, the
second one is very much possible because of your extremely optimistic attitude
towards seemingly impossible things!
Seeker 1: I guess you
visit our hinterland you’ll find people willing to help you beyond what you
might have expected. I experienced that at my in-laws place. That was something
on the other side of the city.
Seeker 2: Okay, How
much is the area of hinterland compared to the land area of this earth??? Tell
me.
Seeker 1: Even one
small place in Rajasthan I had a similar experience. I feel it is the cities
where you mentioned, this proportion may be high, but rural India is still
strong…
Seeker 2: You keep
sticking to what you are saying no matter what J You are talking about 0.00001% how
can that influence the rest of the world?
Seeker 1: That is
exaggeration. Ha ha. It’s not that low…
Seeker 2: The
yardsticks mentioned in the scriptures are very strict and very much different than
what you are imagining for an ideal society, full of moral values! There is
zero compromise or tolerance on morality on any aspects of life.
Seeker 1: Hmm.
Seeker 2: If the world
has to be free of vice, as you think…
Seeker 1: Can’t be
free. But we can give fence sitters a chance to rectify.
Seeker 2: We should
work towards doing that and not simply talk and leave it for someone to do it.
Seeker 1: I know it
can’t be ideal with this human body or society.
Seeker 2: We should do
our small mite. It will get picked up by like-minded…That’s how all
revolutions started…started in a trickle…and expanded to mammoth proportions.
You can’t forget the India’s first war of independence or Sepoy mutiny, as the
British called it, can you? That altered the total situation of the country!
Seeker 1: I see people
doing it…
Seeker 2: I know
people are doing it but it is very very insignificant compared to the effort
that is required to nullify the negative forces ruling around the world at this
very moment…
Seeker 2: If you don’t agree to this, this conversation will go on forever…and I will not be able to post it (LOL).
Seeker 1: Ha ha (LOL). I totally agree to this… (at last) 🙂
P.S: Healthy debate is the one where both the protagonist and the antagonist often subject their conversations with each other to such an extreme extent, probing each other, with the only aim of arriving at a meaningful conclusion, without subjecting to frivolous arguments or mposing one’s ideology on the other.
This is how our ancient Upanishadic thoughts were arrived at!… between the seer and the seen… the seeker and the sought…
My hats off to them. May their tribe grow larger and better!
Sincere thanks to one of my many good and thoughtful North Indian friends, very much positive in Outlook, aimed at the overall well-being of our beautiful country, in this aspect.
Thanks for reaching… my best regards…
Related post:
- Democracy?
Like this:
Like Loading...