Tirade Against Ilaiyaraaja Tells A Lot About ‘Dravidian Model’ Of ‘Social Justice’

Imagine someone born in a quaint village along the foothills of the Western Ghats, struggling for a square meal, having no support of any kind, and yet defying all odds through his talent to achieve unimaginable heights.

That’s R. Gnanathesikan, revered world over as ‘Isaignani’ (musical genius) Ilaiyaraaja whose music continues to heal souls.

Yet, today, the man is at the receiving end of the vitriol spewed by ‘Dravidian Stockists’ and ‘Ambedkarites’.

And what was Ilaiyaraaja’s crime that he has to face music from these elements?

Expressing his views. Ilayaraaja had just expressed his views.

Ilaiyaraaja has written the foreword for a book titled Ambedkar & Modi – Reformer’s Ideas, Performer’s Implementation, in which he has appreciated several initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, especially those concerning empowerment of disadvantaged communities and women.

He lauded the setting up of National Commission for Backward Classes, banning of triple talaq, and the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ initiative of the Modi government, saying that these have brought in social transformation, something that Dr. Ambedkar would have been proud of.

In his foreword, Ilaiyaraaja also drew parallels between Dr. Ambedkar and PM Modi saying “Both these striking personalities succeeded against odds that people from socially disempowered sections of the society face. Both saw poverty and stifling social structures from close quarters and worked to dismantle them, but both are also practical men who believe in action rather than mere thought exercises.”.

Those who identify themselves as ‘Dravidian Stockists’, ‘Periyarists’ and ‘Ambedkarites’ have been 'cancelling' the musical maestro and even abusing him.

Head of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Thol. Thirumavalavan, who is portrayed in Tamil Nadu as the sole voice of the Dalit community, implied that Ilaiyaraaja might have been under pressure, robbing him of his agency to express his opinion.

‘Savukku’ Shankar, a self-proclaimed ‘journalist’ and a rabble-rousing ‘Periyarist’, supportive of the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, dehumanised Ilaiyaraaja by calling him ‘kuppai’, meaning ‘dirt’ or ‘trash’ in Tamil.

Former Lok Sabha MP and Tamil Nadu Congress leader E.V.K.S. Elangovan abused Ilaiyaraaja making casteist remarks saying “There are certain elements in Tamil Nadu today claiming themselves to be ‘king of music’. Everybody knows who is the king of music. Not everyone who plays the tabla can become a music composer”.

“Those who accepted the Communist ideology when they had no means to afford food and were living below the poverty line are today, after getting money and fame, considering themselves to be upper castes. You know who I am referring to.”, the Congress leader said referring to Mr. Ilaiyaraaja.

It is pertinent to mention that Elangovan is the grandson of E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (known as ‘Periyar’ by his followers).

Spokesperson of the ruling DMK cited a summon notice from GST authorities in an attempt to tarnish the ace composer’s image.

This is the treatment meted out by the so-called champions of free speech, democracy, and social justice, to a celebrated icon of music who had brought laurels to Tamil society.

And none from the Tamil film industry have even bothered to speak out in support of Ilaiyaraaja or at least condemn the attack on him. Not even ‘Superstar’ Rajinikanth. Probably he is busy shooting for his next film with Sun Pictures.

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan, whose film career is inseparable from Ilaiyaraaja’s music, may be apprehensive of coming out in support of Ilaiyaraaja given that Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Red Giant Pictures has acquired the theatrical rights of his next venture Vikram.

Such is the stronghold of the ‘Gopalapuram gang’, that even self-made giants are not able to come out and defend one of their own.

If this is not fascism, what is?

But the Ilaiyaraaja episode reveals something that none of the ‘social justice warriors’ will talk about – the true nature of the ‘Dravidian Model’ of ‘social justice’.

Ilaiyaraaja faces vicious attack from ‘Dravidian Stockists’ because they know that none would come to his rescue as he hails from a disadvantaged community.

However, this shouldn’t come as a surprise given that the father of ‘Dravidian Stockists’ and the DMK have a history of perpetuating violence against Dalits.

When 44 agricultural labourers belonging to the Dalit community were burnt to death in the Keezhvenmani Massacre, the so-called ‘Periyar’ justified the violence saying wage is not something that can be demanded, but fixed by the market.

The erstwhile DMK government on the other hand left in lurch the victims of the massacre for the sake of votes from the dominant communities.

A similar incident happened under Karunanidhi’s watch when labourers from the tea estates of Manjolai (mostly Dalits) were hunted down.

There are several such incidents that stands testimony to the anti-Dalit mindset of Dravidian Stockists.

M.C. Rajah, a leader from Dalit community, severed ties with Justice Party over its treatment of Dalits. Back then, the Justice Party was dominated by Naidus, Mudaliars and Chettiyars. Even today, these non-Brahmin ‘forward castes’ form the core vote bank of the DMK.

Dalit woman leader Sathyavani Muthu left the DMK due to continuous harassment and humiliation. Former MP, the late C. T. Dhandapani was publicly insulted on the basis of his caste by the then minister Pongalur Palanisamy and his wife, both of whom belonged to the Kongu Vellalar Gounder community.

Dalit leaders like Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, who ironically defeated Sathyavani Muthu in 1984 elections, quit the party in 2013 and joined the AIADMK citing lack of respect in the party. V.P. Duraiswami, who is now with the BJP, quit the party citing DMK’s treatment of Dalits.

Thus, the attack on Ilaiyaraaja is just another episode that exposes the anti-Dalit mindset of Dravidian Stockists.

This article was originally published on The Commune.