Every action begets a counter-reaction but when such a reaction emerges from the common person against a powerful dynast who called for the annihilation of the faith followed by them, it deserves attention. A reaction or rather a response was given by a group of people of Tamilnadu from diverse backgrounds rejecting the ‘annihilation of Sanatana Dharma’ talk of Udhayanidhi, the son of the Chief Minister. Chennai was the venue chosen to hold a conference to assert their support for Sanatana Dharma and the day was the birthday of EV Ramasamy Naicker which was declared as the “Social Justice Day” by Chief Minister MK Stalin in 2021.
What was supposed to be the day of Social Justice was made to coincide with the day of “Sanatana Thamizhar Sangamam” – the name of the conference – which is going to be repeated every year on the same day, according to the organizers. The birthday of the Prime Minister Modi also falling on the same day, it was seen by the participants and the organizers as a fitting theme to be celebrated on the PM’s birthday. This conference held on the 17th of September in Kumararaja Mutthaiya Hall in Chennai under the banner of a popular YouTube channel, ‘Pesu Thamizha Pesu’ and supported by a host of other channels and philanthropists was headed by the Adheenam of Suryanar Kovil, Thanjavur. A galaxy of sixteen speakers participated in the conference under the common theme “Why I support Sanatana Dharma.”
The very moment the announcement was made about this conclave, Dushyanth Sridhar, one of the leading speakers tweeted that this event “should set a benchmark where no abuses or disparaging remarks are made against any community, religion and gender.” This was maintained in toto with the conference sending a clear message of disapproval of Udhayanidhi’s talk in a civil way. It also turned out to be an occasion of unity of religions with two speakers belonging to the two Abrahamic religions expressing their solidarity with the people of Sanatana Dharma hurt by the eradication call of Udhayanidhi. These speakers who happened to be women spoke about the ancient roots of Sanatana Dharma, long before the birth of other religions.
The Adheena-karta who declared open the conference, recalled the Sanatana practice of having ascetics like him lead the others into the new Parliament building on the opening ceremony and installation of the Sengol. He made a significant reference to the vulnerability of 40% Adi Dravida-s located in rural Tamilnadu becoming the target of Christian missionaries, for whose benefit this call for eradication of the Sanatana Dharma was made by Udhaynidhi Stalin. He said he is reaching out to those disadvantaged sections and wanted others to follow suit.
Arjun Sampath, the Chief of Indu Makkal Katchi pointed out that the so-called reforms attributed to EVR were already started long before the birth of EVR. Thangaraj who was in the forefront of taking out the Devendra Vellalar Community from the SC category recollected the fight to get dignity for his community which was denied by the Dravidian ideology which always downgraded them. He remembered the words of the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, who spoke highly of them as protectors of cows. No one can question the Sanatana roots of their community, he said.
Another speaker who made a deep impression was ‘Tada’ Periyasamy who had some disturbing events to recall on the kind of caste discrimination he faced in his early days. The unpleasant experiences led him to take up arms, but slowly he realized that it had nothing to do with Sanatana Dharma. Today he is a full-fledged exponent of Sanatana principles.
Aswattaman and Amar Prasad Reddy, the leaders of the TNBJP expressed their disapproval of the remark of Udhayanidhi while Aswattaman emphasized that it was a cultural war on Hinduism as Sanatana Dharma represents an ancient culture.
Every speaker, including this writer focused on what Sanatana Dharma is and how the social ills are not the by-product of this Dharma. Dushyanth Sridhar listed out various Tamil texts from recent past to remote past to show how all of them spoke about the same deities and the same concepts of Hinduism such that none can doubt the existence of this Dharma from an undated past. Another speaker, DA Joseph who is running an organization called ‘Rishi Dharma’ jeered at the phony claims of equality and social justice ideologies of the DMK in a jocular way.
An award by name “Sanatana Thamizhar” was instituted and this year’s recipient was Subbu, the author of the book ‘Dravida Mayai’ for dismantling the hypocrisy and falsehood of the Dravidian parties.
The event attended by a fully packed hall brought some kind of relief to the audience who sat through right from the beginning at 9 a.m. onwards craving to see a fitting reply to the abusive assault on their Faith by the prince-in-waiting of the DMK. They wished to see this kind of conference in reply to the Sanatan debate conducted in other places of Tamilnadu to reach more people. Some wanted this to be conducted in other States too, for there is a lack of awareness of what Sanatana Dharma is and why it cannot be faulted for the social ills created by people in various times in the past. The revival of interest in knowing more about our own culture and the Dharmic principles happens to be the better side of the outcome of the abusive talk of Udhayanidhi.
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