In a series of recent incidents, the DMK government has been accused of using diversionary tactics to deflect attention from several contentious issues. These include the denial of permission for the installation of a Vinayagar idol with impractical conditions, Chief Minister Stalin’s reported failure to secure significant investments from the U.S., allegations of sexual assault in a minority-run school, and a fake NCC camp where young minor girls were raped. As part of this strategy, the government has targeted a motivational speaker whose remarks on sin, virtue (punya), and other concepts from the Thirukkural have sparked controversy. The police have filed a case against him, conducted searches at his organisation, and transferred the headmistress of a government higher secondary school who had organised his speech for her students.
Mahavishnu, a self-styled motivational speaker, yoga master, and frequent traveller for training camps and speeches abroad, spoke at two government higher secondary schools in Ashok Nagar and Saidapet, Chennai, during a Teacher’s Day program on August 28. Despite being a tenth-standard school dropout, Mahavishnu is known for his eloquence. He runs multiple business ventures under the Paramporul Foundation, which include selling rudraksha beads, idols, organising tree planting initiatives, providing support to poor students, and conducting community feeding (anna dhan). He charges participants thousands of rupees for his sessions and often travels internationally for his programs.
Claiming to be a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, Mahavishnu’s talk focused on self-identification, drawing on quotes from the Thirukkural and Hindu philosophies such as karma, rebirth, past lives, and the concepts of ‘pava’ (sin) and ‘punniya’ (virtue). He emphasised that by understanding themselves, students could overcome their shortcomings and achieve success, summarising his teachings around these eternal and religious themes.
ஒட்டு மொத்த திராவிடியா கூட்டமும் இப்படி டேக் போட்டு #Resign_AnbilMahesh 🤣🤣😂😂கதறும் அளவுக்கு சம்பவம் பண்ணிருக்கான் இந்த பையன்
🤗🤗👌👌🔥🔥சொறியன் உளறிய கடவுள் மறுப்பை எட்டி உதைத்தால் தான் தமிழ்நாடு உருப்படும்.
இப்படித்தான் திராவிடியாஸ
Below the belt அடிச்சு விடனும்… pic.twitter.com/OolebNJC19— ArunmozhiVarman 🇮🇳 🕉🚩🛕🎻🎧🎙🎶 (@Arunmozhi_Raaja) September 6, 2024
Mahavishnu reasoned out that due karma in earlier births more particularly since we committed in previous births for having physical deformities, blindness, and social inequalities such as homelessness and the disparity between poor and rich . This triggered strong reactions from Periyarist and Dravidianist groups, leading to severe criticism of Tamil Nadu DMK Minister Anbil Mahesh on social media.
After his speech went viral in social media and the reception accorded to him went viral on 6th September, there have been angry voices from so-called followers of EV Ramaswamy Naicker and the Dravidian model DMK government for such an unscientific speech. Some organised protests, others took to social media to condemn his speeches. Dravidam takes false pride in Valluvar by distorting and misquoting him as if he were an irreligious identity-less person. Real Tamils take real pride in sage Thiruvalluvar for who he was – a practicing Hindu who wrote a globally appealing magnum opus of Bharatiya virtues, polity, and love. His philosophical work is a gift from Thamizhagam to the world.
CM Stalin, who is abroad to woo investors in US, issued a statement without directly referring to the incident underlining the need for scientific thinking in schools. He announced plans to introduce guidelines for school programmes to ensure students are exposed to progressive ideologies.
மாணவச் செல்வங்கள் அறிந்துகொள்ளத் தேவையான சிறந்த அறிவியல் சிந்தனைகள் தரம் மிகுந்த நமது பாடநூல்களில் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளன.
எதிர்காலச் சவால்களை, தன்னம்பிக்கையோடு எதிர்கொள்ளவும், அறிவாற்றலைக் கூர்மைப்படுத்திக் கொள்ளவும் தேவையான சிறப்பான கருத்துகளை ஆசிரியர்களே எடுத்துக்கூற முடியும்.…
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) September 6, 2024
State Education Minister Anbil Poyyamozhi who visited the Ashok Nagar school and felicitated the teacher ( learnt a Christian / Dravidian stock) during the event. A School Education director conducted an inquiry with teachers. AC of police also visited the school and held in inquiry. Following this, R Tamilarasi, HM of Ashok Nagar School was shifted to Penalrupet in the neighbouring Tiruvallur district, While K Shanmugasundram, HM of Saidapet was moved to Anaicut in Chengalpet district.
But it was twisted that Mahavishnu ill-treated physically handicapped persons. Protests were held and dozens of complaints have been made against Mahavishnu by DYFI, SFI, December 3 movement, seeking action against him under the Rights to persons with Disabilities Act. AIADMK, PMK, CPM, CPI, MDMK, VCK and DMK Thoothukudi DMK MPKanimozhi condemned his speeches.
But the BJP’s lone Greater Chennai Corporation ward councillor, Uma Anandan on hearing a protest blaming the RSS, rushed to the school and spoke to media. She questioned the origin of the complaints, asserting that the motivational speaker, who was invited by the school administration, did not trespass but was officially invited. She questioned why the Justice Chandru Committee was established if it was meant to foster values and address caste conflicts among students.
Uma Anandan said “They said that he was quoting the Thirukkural and spoke about ‘Immai’ (present life) and ‘Marumai’ (past life). Now, will they remove Thirukkural? Will the Tamil Nadu government and the education department say that they will not teach Thirukkural to children? Saint and great Tamil poet Avvaiyar had said all of these: The forehead should not be without sacred ash, worshiping in a shrine is good, and don’t live in a town without a temple. Now, are they going to remove her too? Are they going to remove Avvaiyar’s picture? Where are they going to draw the line on this?”
“We will not let the headmaster be suspended. We will sit on the road and protest” – BJP Councilor Uma Anandan ! @umaanandansays #Resign_AnbilMahesh #Resign_Stalin
— G Pradeep (@pradeep_gee) September 6, 2024
Uma Anandan warned that if the headmistress who permitted the program is transferred, they will block the roads and stage a protest against the decision. JACTO-Geo, a government staff union, has come in support of HMs of schools who organised the event and opposed their knee jerk transfers.
அரசு பள்ளியில் சர்ச்சையான ஆன்மிக சொற்பொழிவு.. அசோக் நகர் பள்ளி தலைமை ஆசிரியருக்கு ஆதரவாக பேசிய ஜாக்டோ ஜியோ நிர்வாகி..#Chennai | #AshokNagar | #GovtSchool | #MahaVishnu | #HeadMaster | #MotivationalSpeech | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/ugpM6jPZGR
— Polimer News (@polimernews) September 6, 2024
Critics argue that the DMK is only targeting issues related to Hinduism while permitting other activities to continue unchecked in schools saying it is ok if classes on Bible and tests for them but referring couplets from Thirukkural. The critics say DMK government in 1967 had done with the Moral instruction classes in schools which taught spiritual things, epics, puranas . They refer old events to high light the double standards of DMK government and its allies in targeting Hindu religion.
DMK student wing meeting adopted a resolution saying, “TThe spread of caste and communal sentiments in recent times in the garb of spirituality should be defeated”.
In one of the video, Virugambakkam DMK MLA Prabhakara Raja is seen delivering a fear-mongering speech to school students about NEET-related suicides, while promoting the DMK’s anti-NEET agenda and instilling fear among the students.
In another viral video, controversial Christian catholic priest Joe Arun, who is now member TN school text review committee head by another Christian Dindigul I Leony, is seen openly admitting at a Loyola College conclave that he had incorporated Jesuit ideas into the Tamil Nadu state syllabus while serving on the curriculum setting council. He claimed that these ideas were included in social science subjects from classes 1 through 12. He said “the state government of Tamil Nadu asked me to revise the syllabus first standard to twelfth standard social sciences syllabuses. I was the one of the mentors to decide, if you go and see today first standard students, social science notebook there is plenty of Jesuit ideologies are been injected into it and nobody knows more and more Majlis are al inserted there and you will see only pictures in the first standard students, its my idea”…
I have subtly incorporated Jesus’ Christianity to Tamil Nadu school social science curriculum without many knowing about it – Director of Loyola College, Joe Arun. Your thoughts on this? Why no strict action against him ? #Resign_AnbilMahesh #Resign_Stalin pic.twitter.com/0FokXDm2m6
— G Pradeep (@pradeep_gee) September 6, 2024
In June this year, there was controversy on questions related to jesus was asked. Questions asked in TNPSC exams, when is Jesus Christ coming? No one has called for a ban of Group exams with a history of corruption. But let’s all jump jingoisticly over NEET.
Questions asked in TNPSC exams, when is Jesus Christ coming?
No one has called for a ban of Group exams with a history of corruption.
But let’s all jump jingoisticly over NEET. pic.twitter.com/qXA9hcsCft
— Indu Makkal Katchi (Offl) 🇮🇳 (@Indumakalktchi) June 10, 2024
But the DMK government was not bothered in government schools students were asked to clean toilets, sweep classrooms, fetch water for drinking and other purposes from outside.
இன்றைய செய்திகள்.!!
✅தொடக்க பள்ளியில் பெண் மாணவிகளுக்கு பாலியல் சீண்டல்
✅அரசு பள்ளியில் கழிவறையை சுத்தம் செய்ய வைக்கப்பட்ட மாணவ மாணவிகள்
ஆனா….பாருங்க அன்பில் அங்கிள் “ஊழல் மூலம் பாவம், நல்லது மூலம் புண்ணியம்” பற்றி எப்படி பேசலாம் என பேசுறதுல பிசியா இருக்கார் 🤧 pic.twitter.com/i5nFdnOH4b
— Sanghi Prince 🚩 (@SanghiPrince) September 6, 2024
The questioned the silence of the government and its others who have been teaching lessons to others over an issue Chettipalayam near Panruti in Cuddalore district where (6th September) in Annai Velankanni Technical College new students were asked to carry the idol of the Velankanni around the college compound. Was it fair to force the new students (both Hindus and other religions) on their first day to do such thing? Why they are keeping mum? Was it secular for them? The government-aided Madaras teach the Quran and not other religions?
