News Brief
Actor Kamal Haasan.
Actor Kamal Haasan has come out in support of Tamil film director Vetrimaaran on the latter's comment about Raja Raja Chola's alleged portrayal as a Hindu icon.
Haasan said that the Hindu religion did not exist at the time of the Chola kings and that Hinduism was a later political construct created by the British.
Haasan has said that the British did not understand how to collectively describe the various religions that were in vogue in Tamil Nadu at the time like Vaishnavism, Shaivism and others.
The emperor Raja Raja Chola has been depicted, and is a central figure, in the recently released movie ‘Ponniyin Selvan - I’.
The comments by Vetrimaran were made during the 60th birthday celebrations of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thirumavalavan.
“They are constantly taking away our identities. Let it be giving saffron clothes to Valluvar; depicting Rajaraja Chola as a Hindu king”, he said.
Apart from VCK supremo Thirumavalavan who supported Vetrimaaran in his tweets, the comments also found support from Congress MP Jothimani, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) leader Seeman and Tamil actor Karunas.
Meanwhile, Tamil scholars have cited inscriptions and other evidence for the Chola dynasty's devotion towards Vishnu and patronage of Vaishnavite traditions.
Notable among these evidences include an inscription of Raja Raja Chola’s influential sister Kundavai referring to herself as an ‘azhwar’ - a distinctly Vaishnavite term used for saints and most devoted bhakts of Vishnu.
Another inscription of Raja Raja, made during his lifetime, invokes both Shiva and Vishnu in the preamble. Many have also cited the numerous grants given to both Shaivite and Vaishnavite institutions by Cholas.
Historians have also cited instances of Chola and Pandyan kings participating in Vedic rituals.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest