While electoral outcomes are intrinsic to democratic principles, attributing divisive reasons to victories or losses poses a threat to the core tenets of democracy and the sovereignty of the nation. The recent landslide victory of the BJP in the Hindi heartland states has triggered a series of disparaging remarks from I.N.D.I. Alliance partners against the residents of these states.
DMK Dharmapuri MP Senthil Kumar, known for his controversial statements, took the floor of Parliament to declare, “People of this country should think that the power of this BJP is only winning elections and mainly in the heartland states of Hindi or what we generally call as the ‘Gau mutra states.’ You cannot come to South India. You see all the results of what happens in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra, and Telangana.” Notably, it was revealed that his son is currently studying in Uttarakhand.
This is not the first time Senthil Kumar has made such divisive comments. Previously, he made a controversial reference to Cow Urine while discussing the National Education Policy in Lok Sabha, asserting, “If they want to implement it to make India a developed state, let them implement Tamil Nadu’s model throughout the state. Instead, why is it being thrust upon us? We totally reject it. If they want, they can go implement them in Gau mutra (BJP ruled) states, which they are very keen upon.”
Further exacerbating the situation, Praveen Chakravarty, Chairman of the Data Analytics department of the Congress party appointed by Rahul Gandhi, shared a picture titled “South Vs North” with a caption suggesting that the boundary line is becoming clearer, alluding to the divisive playbook of its ally, DMK.
In a startling development, a Congress youth functionary from Tamil Nadu, Dhivya Maruthaiah, openly called for cutting off the southern states from the rest of India, stating, “Just cut us off man.. South is for us. North, go wherever/however you want!”
In Kerala, Dr. Arun Kumar, Chief Editor at Reporter TV channel, added to the alarming rhetoric by making on-air comments insulting North Indians, claiming, ‘North Indians are illiterate!’
North Indians are illiterate!!
The abusive comments originated from a well-known Malayalam news channel following the resounding victory of the BJP.
This is not the first time Dr. Arun Kumar, Chief Editor at Reporter TV channel, has insulted North Indians by stating, ‘North… pic.twitter.com/v7bYXYdgJV
— MAHARATHI (@MahaRathii) December 3, 2023
Key figures from various domains, including media, politics, and social media, have contributed to heightened tensions, accentuating regional disparities and exacerbating cultural conflicts.
M K Venu, the Founding Editor of the leftist portal ‘The Wire,’ has added his voice to the escalating North-South discourse. He contends that the divide has deepened in the aftermath of the election results, highlighting the polarizing impact of political events on the national narrative.
North-South divide has become ever sharper with Congress won in Telangana and BJP poised to retain most Hindi states. Now expect ED/IT agencies to be fully deployed in South until Lok Sabha 2024 elections!
— M K Venu (@mkvenu1) December 3, 2023
Contributing to the divisive narrative, Padma Priya, a YouTube Beautician-turned-Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) member-turned-DMK functionary, took to social media, sharing a picture with the caption “#BJPFreeSouth.” Such hashtags and imagery contribute to the perception of a widening divide between the southern states and the political outcomes in the north.
ஒற்றுமையே வலிமை 💪 #BJPFreeSouth pic.twitter.com/06AiovN89K
— Padma Priya (@Tamizhachi_Offl) December 3, 2023
Further intensifying the situation, a DMK supporter using the handle “Surya Born To Win” resorted to racial comments, referring to the north Indian states as “Cow belt states.” He went on to make derogatory remarks about the people in these states, labelling them as “illiterate, communal bigots” who oppose development.
Expressing a lack of trust in “vadakkans” (a derogatory term for North Indians in Tamil), another DMK supporter using the handle ‘Journalist Senthil’ conveyed sympathies to those who expressed trust in what he referred to as “illiterate religious bigoted dogs.” The inflammatory language used suggests a growing sentiment of mistrust and animosity.
This recent surge in North-South rhetoric is not an isolated incident, as DMK leaders have a history of attempting to foster division through their speeches. Previous instances include references to South vs North, Aryan vs Dravidian, and Tamils vs “Pani poor walas” (a derogatory term for people from the north). Such divisive rhetoric has been employed to perpetuate anti-Brahmin and anti-North sentiments, fueling demands for regional autonomy like Dravida Nadu.
The DMK and its allies, such as Naam Tamizhar Katchi and PMK, have consistently highlighted the migration of unskilled labourers from North to South as a potential source of cultural conflict. This narrative, while targeting specific demographics, risks deepening existing divides within the country.
This recent trend of branding and discriminating against North Indians echoes historical biases, such as the use of the term ‘Madrasis’ in the north to generalise and stereotype South Indians. Now, the tables have turned, with DMK and its affiliates labelling those from the north as ‘Vadakkans’ (northerners) or derogatory terms like ‘Paani Poori wallas,’ Marwaris, migrators, beeda vayan (beeda chewers), pan gutka wallas, etc.
Former Rajya Sabha MP and DMK Organising Secretary R S Bharati sparked outrage when, in a Tamil speech, he commented on the situation in Nagaland involving Governor R N Ravi. Bharati drew a controversial parallel, stating, “I addressed a gathering about what happened to him (Governor R N Ravi) in Nagaland; they chased him away. Don’t mistake me; I am just quoting an example. The people of Nagaland eat dog meat. If someone who eats dog meat themselves has so much self-respect that they chased away this governor, then imagine how much self-respect Tamils, who consume food with salt, would have. The day he was chased away, the people of Nagaland celebrated it like Deepavali.”
DMK Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiyagarajan added fuel to the fire with remarks on the BJP’s electoral successes in the ‘Hindi Belt.’ In an interview with Hindustan Times, Thiyagarajan expressed his perplexity over the BJP’s repeated victories in the region and speculated, “I’m looking for explanations. I’m trying to find maybe one of the explanations is that the lowest income levels and the worst per capita education levels are highly correlated with this outcome. I don’t have any proof. I don’t have anything.”
Another instance of divisive rhetoric came from TN Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy, who, in a convocation ceremony at Bharthiar University in Coimbatore, commented on the necessity of learning Hindi. Ponmudy asserted, “In Tamil Nadu, there are two languages – English and Tamil. While English is an international language, Tamil is a local language. We were told that learning Hindi would fetch us jobs, did we get (jobs)? You go and see in our state, Coimbatore, who sells pani puris? They are Hindi speakers.” This statement drew criticism for its derogatory undertones, implying a link between Hindi speakers and menial jobs.
Ponmudy further emphasised his point during an address to members of the DMK Students Wing, stating, “Many say that if you study Hindi, you will get a job. But, many are coming to work in Chennai from northern states. A few are selling pani puri here.” Such remarks perpetuate stereotypes and contribute to the growing tensions between linguistic communities.
'Hindi speakers sell 'Pani-Puri' in Coimbatore': Tamil Nadu education minister K Ponmudy mocks Hindi
Track latest news updates here https://t.co/RvRLArXwZ5 pic.twitter.com/DfndIdtWvj— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) May 13, 2022
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has long employed anti-Hindi rhetoric, using language to exploit linguistic fault lines that now manifest as a visceral animosity towards North Indians. The party’s divisive stance found expression when Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian attributed the rising COVID-19 cases in the state to ‘north Indians.’
Addressing the media, Subramanian stated, “The disease has started increasing in educational institutions like VIT, Anna University, and Sathya Sai. The reason for that is, in many states of India, the coronavirus cases have not come under control, especially Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, where cases have been rising. When students from north India come into these educational institutions, the disease is spreading through them.” This statement, made on June 1, 2022, coincided with the reporting of new COVID-19 clusters in various Chennai colleges.
The DMK’s anti-Hindi sentiment also found representation in the Surya-starrer film “Jaibhim,” where a scene depicted Prakash Raj’s character, a police officer, slapping a man for ‘speaking in Hindi.’ The scene generated controversy on Twitter, with some users expressing offence, perceiving it as promoting hatred towards Hindi speakers.
The party’s deeply ingrained and divisive aversion towards North Indians is extending beyond political circles, impacting society at large. Instances have been reported where North Indian migrant labourers faced physical assault by locals based on unfounded suspicions. This trend not only highlights the toxic repercussions of political rhetoric but also underscores the importance of fostering an inclusive and tolerant society.
Chief Minister MK Stalin’s recurrent use of terms like ‘Union government’ instead of ‘Central government’ and references to the ‘Dravidian model government’ signal potential groundwork for advocating Dravida Nadu or a separate state for Tamils. This separatist rhetoric fails to acknowledge the significant population of Tamilians employed in North Indian states, living harmoniously and contributing positively to diverse societies.
As political leaders play a crucial role in shaping public perception, it is essential to recognise the impact of language on social harmony. The propagation of divisive narratives not only fuels regional animosities but also compromises the unity and integrity of the nation. Responsible leadership and inclusive communication are imperative to promote understanding and foster a collective vision that transcends linguistic and regional boundaries.
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