Tamil nationalists led by Naam Tamizhar Katchi commemorated Tamil Nadu Day in a grand style, with flag hoisting, oath-taking, a cultural fest and a reassertion of Tamil nationalism at Salem on 1 November, notwithstanding the recent announcement of the ruling DMK government to shift the date to 18 July, following Dravidian ideologues’ suggestion that the change is mooted, based on the fact that “Tamil Nadu” got its name on 18 July 1967 through a resolution of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. WSN reports. 

UNFAZED BY THE DECISION OF THE TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT to change the date of Tamil Nadu Day, Tamil nationalists from across the state gathered at Salem and vowed to celebrate the day on 1 November and educate the people of Tamil Nadu of the Dravidian designs of the present government of Tamil Nadu.

Reportedly, as suggested by Dravidian scholars and ideologues, DMK decided to change the date. The AIADMK, two years ago, had started observing Tamil Nadu Day on 1 November.

So far, Punjab and Tamil Nadu celebrate their formation days on the same date -1 November. However, this may end next year if the DMK government has its way.   

Pursuant to the provisions of the States Reorganisation Act, the state of Tamil Nadu was carved out on 1 November while some parts of the earlier Madras Presidency were transferred to Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.  While the state has been observing the day of formation 1 November, the present chief minister M. K. Stalin resolved to push it to 18 July. 

Stalin’s announcement has triggered a row among Thamizh nationalists and political parties across Thamizh Nadu, who had questioned the newly-elected DMK government’s rationale behind the date change.  This move of the Stalin-led DMK government has further accentuated the divide between the Dravidian and Tamil scholars, amidst moves by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to trivialize Tamilism at the altar of Dravidian hegemony.

Setting the tone of the event, Senthamizhan Seeman, Chief Coordinator, Naam Thamizhar Katchi questioned the august audience whether the birthday of a child will be celebrated as a birthday on the date on which a child was named or the date on which the child was born. On that ground, he said it is illogical to celebrate Thamizh Nadu Day on July 18 rather than November 01 on which the State was formed. 

The pro-Tamil Naam Tamilar Party of Senthamizhan Seeman and other Tamil nationalist bodies organised a cultural fest including forgotten art forms of Kavadiyattam and Karakattam to uphold Tamil respect and honour. 

Speaking on the occasion, political activist Nachiyaal Suganthi endorsed NTK’s decision to observe Thamizh Nadu Day on 1 November and elaborated how Dravidian politics always confuses Thamizh people by indulging in befuddling Tamil identity issues. 

Muthupandiyan -the founder of Marudhu Makkal Iyakkam accused the Dravidian parties, that ruled the state for over 50 years of having failed to restore Thamizh pride and to pass on the legacy to the next generations. “There should be no confusion in anyone’s mind and 1 November should be the Thamizh Nadu Day in future,” he added. 

Senthil Mallar -founder, Thamizhaga Thayaka Katchi reiterated that the word “Dravidam” is not a Thamizh word, and Dravidian politics is not meant for the Thamizh people and their soil. He pointed out that the uprising of the Thamizh national ideology is inevitable and unstoppable.

Mu. Kalanchiyam -founder, Thamizhar Nala Periyakkam, in his appeal to the audience, lashed out at the DMK stating that the Dravidian ideology constantly strives to shrink Thamizh’s history, not beyond the period of Arignar Anna and Periyar. “Any attempt to shift the date of Tamil Nadu Day must be resisted at all costs,” he added.

Viyanarasu -founder, Thamizh Thesa Thanurimai Katchi recollected how the then Thamizh Nadu CM Kamarajar’s magnanimity let the State lose its share of land and questioned the intention of the present-day DMK regime to announce July 18 as Thamizh Nadu Day, while the Dravidian forefathers never brought this idea to the table earlier. 

Seeman reiterated the need for a separate flag for the state that commemorates the great rulers of the Cheran, Chozhan, and Pandyan empires. He accused that it is the Dravidian parties’ plot to shrink the 50,000-year-old Thamizh history of pride to a mere 100 years of the recent past.

Seeman said that it was the responsibility of the Thamizh youth to retrieve their lost pride and glory. “It is time for the younger generation to create history by consistent and dedicated work,” he added. 

Tamil nationalists on one platform with Naam Tamilar Katchi proclaiming 1 November as Tamil Nadu Day, deriding DMK govt. date change move childish and an effort to foist Dravidianism on Tamils. #TamizhNaduDay, #NTK, #NaamTamilarKatchi, #WeAreTamils, #DMK https://t.co/g75YzYQmyw

— Jagmohan Singh (@thewsneditor) November 8, 2021

Naam Tamilar Katchi Tamil nationalist leader Seeman roared, “Let us all speak Tamil without the influence of any foreign language and let it become second nature to all of us. We owe this to our ancestors, ourselves and to the generation next.”