Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi did not hesitate to highlight the uncomfortable truth that some individuals in authority today had worked against the National Freedom Movement by collaborating with the British. He suggested that these individuals avoid discussing the heroic struggles of the National Freedom Movement, as it would expose their historical roles as collaborators with the enemies.
While participating in the memorial function at NR IAS Academy in Thiruchirappalli, Governor RN Ravi praised the Marudhu Brothers for igniting the flame of India’s independence. He emphasised their significant contribution to the Jambudweep declaration.
Ravi also paid tribute to the valiant Freedom Fighters from Tamil Nadu who made innumerable sacrifices for India’s freedom. He expressed disappointment at the limited recognition and acknowledgement these heroes received in the past.
Upon arriving in Tamil Nadu as Governor, Ravi was surprised to find only a handful of freedom fighters were recognised in the region. He lamented the absence of notable figures like the Marudhu Brothers in the historical narrative. , Ravi said, “When I furthered my inquiry, I found several thousand freedom fighters who gave their lives for the freedom of Bharat. Sivagangai district, which was the centre of the revolt against the British, the government recently issued a prohibitory order not to assemble from October 23rd to 31st, citing a law-and-order situation that happened in 2012 where some people were killed. If any leader of the political party or their leaders from the past, on their anniversary day, had a law and order incident, would they prohibit their celebrations in subsequent years?”
Ravi revealed that the authorities had attempted to erase the memory of these heroes from the people’s consciousness, even removing their stories from school textbooks. He suggested that their recognition had become purely politically motivated for vote-bank gains.
The governor criticised the divisive caste lines that have fragmented Tamil Nadu’s society and called for unity in recognising the contributions of the Freedom Fighters.
Ravi recalled a telling incident from Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary celebration, where a photo gallery displayed no images of Dravidian ideology icons, leading to the abolishment of the photo gallery system.
Honour Beyond Caste
Expressing concern over the reduction of legendary freedom fighters like the Marudhu Brothers to mere caste leaders, Ravi questioned whether figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh would have met the same fate if they were born in Tamil Nadu. He emphasised the importance of recognising and honouring the sacrifices made for the nation’s freedom.
Ravi invoked Kural 110 to illustrate the virtue of gratitude and warned that Thiruvalluvar’s curse would fall upon those who tried to forget the sacrifices of these great heroes.
British Designs and Erasing History
RN Ravi exposed the British agenda of erasing the history of Tamil Nadu by promoting a false narrative of racial divide between Dravidians and Aryans. He discussed the India Charter Act of 1813, which aimed to evangelise India and undermine its culture and spirituality, and how British volunteers like Robert Caldwell played a role in this divisive strategy.
Ravi alluded to the Justice Party and its offshoots, accusing them of presenting a memorandum in London opposing India’s freedom. He underscored the historical suppression of institutions that defined Tamil Nadu as a sacred land with a rich spiritual and warrior heritage.
Ravi also questioned how those who observed August 15, 1947, as a “black day” could face the nation’s heroes. He argued that the fear of acknowledging the National Freedom Movement and its warriors stems from their dark past.
Politicisation of Higher Education
RN Ravi expressed his concern over the extreme politicisation of higher education institutions, where PhD theses primarily focus on a handful of icons of Dravidian ideologies. He called for balanced research on the lives and times of India’s great freedom fighters.
Governor R N Ravi’s passionate address shed light on the need to recognise and honour the sacrifices made by the National Freedom Movement and its heroes. He emphasised the importance of unity and gratitude, calling for a collective effort to preserve the memory of those who fought for India’s independence.
